
Copyright}* 



10 



CXiEmiGHT DEPOSJC 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATION 
IN PARISHES 



BOOKS BY FATHER GARESCHE 

Published by Benziger Brothers 

In Same Uniform Series 
Bach, Net, $1.50; Postage, 10 Cents 

THE PATHS OF GOODNESS. Some Helpful 
Thoughts on Spiritual Progress. 

It is a most readable book. — Catholic Bulletin. 

YOUR OWN HEART. Some Helps to understand it. 
The Author knows how to talk of men's faults 
so as to inspire them to do better. — The Fort- 
nightly Review. 

YOUR SOUL'S SALVATION. Instructions on 
Personal Holiness. 

We know of no spiritual book which deserves 
to have a larger vogue amongst Catholics. — 
Rosary Magazine. 

THE THINGS IMMORTAL. Spiritual thoughts 
for everyday reading. 
The subjects are most important, the treatment 
simple, practical and persuasive. — Catholic 
World. 

YOUR INTERESTS ETERNAL. Our service to 
Our Heavenly Father. 

He presents immortal truths in a direct way 
that enlists attention and arouses zeal. — ; 
Catholic School Journal. 

THE MOST BELOVED WOMAN. The Preroga- 
tives and Glories of the Blessed Mother of God. 
It is enjoyable, very interesting, edifying and 
highly instructive. — Dominicana. 

YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOU. Our dealings 
with those about us. 

Should be in every Catholic library and every 
busy Catholic should read it. — 5"*. Xavier's 
Calendar. 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN PARISHES. 

Net, $2.75. 

Brimful of ideas it will be of practical aid to 
Reverend Pastors in their varied Parish Activi- 
ties, while Reverend Curates, Supervisors of 
Schools and Charitable Institutions, as also 
Officers in charge of and directing Sodalities, 
Societies and Fraternal Organizations will find 
it a practical guide for all purposes. 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATION 
IN PARISHES 



BY c>^ 

REV. EDWARD R GARESCHE, S.J. 




New York, Cincinnati, Chicago 

BENZIGER BROTHERS 

PRINTERS TO THE I PUBLISHERS OF 

BOLT APOSTOLIC SEE I BEKZIOER'S MAGAZINE 

1931 



- Gr3 



FRANCIS X. McMENAMY, S.J., 

Praep. Prov. Missourianiae. 



mm odbuu 

ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S.T.D., 

Censor Librorum. 



•ffrnprfmatut* 

H[. PATRICK J. HAYES, D.D. 

Archbishop of New York, 



New York, January 6, 1921. 



CoPTBIGflT, 1921, BY BeNZIGER BROTHERS 

MI\R 25 1921 
©CLA611305 



PREFACE 

THERE is an increasing conviction on the 
part of both Pastors and people of the 
need of new methods in Parish Organization 
to meet the needs of the time. Neverthe- 
less, these methods must not be a violent 
innovation, nor a sudden departure from estab- 
lished and traditional ways of Catholic action, 
but should be a quiet and logical development 
of approved methods and of established insti- 
tutions. With these things in mind, the au- 
thor of the present volume has been endeav- 
oring during the last half decade to assist the 
directors of sodalities in parishes and institu- 
tions to utilize their existing societies to meet 
the various needs of Catholic action. The 
suggestions and plans contained in this book 
are the result of these endeavors. 

While a great number of methods and ideas 
are presented in these pages, it is of course 
intended that each reader will make a judicious 
selection of those that are best suited to his 
own circumstances, or to the conditions of the 

5 



6 Preface 

organization of which he may have charge. 
The volume is intended to be useful as w^ell 
to individuals who wish to learn what good 
works they can personally accomplish, as to the 
directors and officers of Sodalities and other 
societies. It has been thought well, therefore, 
to go into some detail and to offer an abund- 
ance of material, leaving to each one to take 
what is useful and helpful and to disregard 
what does not seem presently suitable to his 
needs. 

Though the society called the Sodality has 
been taken herein for a standard of organiza- 
tion in parishes, schools and institutions, as 
being the most universal in its distribution 
and the most general in its membership, the 
thoughtful reader will be able easily to apply 
the suggestions made, to the work of almost 
any Catholic society. The lists of activities 
and the departments of work outlined are those 
'which have seemed most timely and have 
^proven most successful in actual practice. In 
general, an effort has been made to sum up 
in this book the experiences of many parishes 
and the fruits of the failures and successes of 
many workers for Catholic organization. 



CONTENTS 



Preface 



PAGB 



Chapter I — Organizing the Parish 



13 



PAGE 

The Differing Conditions 13 
The Choice of Good 

Works 14 

The Key Man .... 14 

The Constant Effort . . 15 

In One's Own Hands . 16 

Applying for Affiliation . 16 

The Order of Procedure 17 

Preliminary Studies . . 18 

Beginning the Organiza- 
tion 19 

Preparation .... 20 
Several Ways of Organiz- 
ing 21 

A Retreat or Mission . 22 

The Lasting Fruit . . 23 

Plans for Membership 

Campaign .... 25 

As Candidates Only . . 27 

The Organization Confer- 
ences 28 

A Typical Discourse . . 30 

The Advantages of Mem- 
bership 31 

The Leaflet "Be a Sodal- 

ist" 32 

The Organization Meet- 
ing 35 

Explaining the Sections . 37 

Enrolling the Volunteers 38 



A Hasty Method of Or- 
ganizing 39 

Alternative Plans ... 40 

Selecting the Officers . . 42 

A Commendable Way of 
Electing 43 

The Officers and Their 
Duties 

The Information Meeting 

Section Meetings . 

The Return Meeting . . 

A Subsequent Canvass . 

Where the Pastor Him- 
self Organizes 

Another Way of Begin- 
ning 

A Concrete Instance . 

Another Instance . 

Modifying the Procedure 

Reviving the Sodality 
Spirit 

The Problem of the Men 

The Fervent Nucleus 

The Powers of the Di 

rector .... 
The Second Meeting 

The Consultation with 
Officers ... 

Beginning the Work 

Further Membership 
Campaigns 



the 



45 

47 
47 
50 
50 

52 

53 
54 
57 
60 

62 
63 
64 

64 
65 

67 
68 

69 



8 



Contents 



PAGB 

The Membership Cam- 
paign by Mail ... 71 
Membership Contests . 71 
A Time of Probation . 74 
Additional Sections . .75 

The Patrons of the Sec- 
tions 75 

Training the New Mem- 
bers 76 

Reading the Manual . . 77 

Making Them Welcome . 77 

Social as Well as Spirit- 
ual 78 

The Old Members . . 79 

Benevolent Societies . . 80 

Officers' Meetings ... 81 

The Regular Meeting . 83 

Seating the Bands . . 83 

Reports of Sections . . 84 

Varying the Meeting . . 85 

Other Means of Variety 86 

One's Own Method . . 87 

The Frequency of Meet- 
ings 88 

Advantages of Weekly 

Meetings 89 

The Meetings of the Sec- 
tions 90 

The Program of Business 91 

The Convenient Time . . 92 

Sub-Conunittees and Cir- 
cles 93 

Some Details and Precau- 
tions 94 



FAGB 

Prayer, Study, and Work 95 
Acquiring Information . 96 
Pruning the Dead Wood 96 
Outside Cooperation . . 97 
Outside Membership . . 98 
Outside Attendance at 

Meetings 99 

Indefinitely Adaptable . 100 
The Effort Needed . . 101 

The Essentials of the So- 
dality 102 

The Rules .... 103 

Additional Rules . . . 104 

Applying for Erection 
and Affiliation . . . 104 

Filling Out the Petition 106 

Sending in the Petition 107 

The Effects of Erection 108 

The Effects of Aggrega- 
tion 109 

Some Further Details . 110 

The Expenses, Etc., of 
Aggregation . . . .112 

The Duration of Erection 
and Aggregation . .112 

Aggregation of Societies 
Already Existing . .113 

Reorganization of an Ex- 
isting Society . . . 114 

When a Change Is Advis- 
able 114 

A Case in Point . . . 115 

Helping Other Organiza- 
tions 116 



Chapter II — Sodalities for Special 
Classes of Persons 118 



The Need and Opportu- 
nity 118 

Sodalities for Priests . .119 



Sodalities for Physicians 121 
Sodalities for Medical 
Students 123 



Contents 



9 



PAGE 

Sodalities for Lawyers . 124 
Sodalities for Law Stu- 
dents 125 

Sodalities for Teachers . 126 
Sodalities for Nurses . 127 
Some Details of the 

Nurses' Sodality . . 128 
Some Suggested Activi- 
ties 129 

Interchange of Members 133 
Points on Membership . 134 
Alumni and Alumnae So- 
dalities 136 



PAGE 

An Intermediate Sodality 137 

Sodalities in the Parish 
Schools 138 

Some Details of Import- 
ance 139 

Organizing a Parish 
School Sodality ... 140 

High Schools and College 
Sodalities .... 144 

Organizing a Sodality in 
High School or College 146 

Some Practical Good 
Works 150 



Chapter III — The Organization of 
Sections 15G 



What is a Section? . . 156 
Recommended in the 
Rules. Traditional . 156 

Advantages of Sections. 
Unity 158 

The Works of Sections . 159 
Cooperation, Not Compe- 
tition 160 



Internal Organization of 
Sections 161 

The President of the Sec- 
tion 162 

The Other Officers . . 163 

Suggestions for the Suc- 
cessful Management of 
Sections 164 



Chapter IV- 
Welfare 



Sections for Sodality 



Divisions of Sections . . 167 
The Sociability Section . 168 
The Entertainment Sec- 
tion 169 

Membership Section . .169 

Section for the Union of 

Sodalists in Prayer . . 171 
The Mutual Aid Section 172 
Savings Fund Section . 174 
Loan Funds Section . . 174 
The Lecture Section . . 175 



167 



A Study Class in Lectur- 
ing 177 

Other Activities of Lec- 
ture Sections . . . 181 

Cooperation with Other 
Parishes 182 

Some Successful Plans . 183 

The Common Cause Plan 185 

The Ways and Means 
Section 187 

Collection Campaigns . 189 



10 Contents 

PAGE 

Chapter V — Sections for Personal 
Holiness 192 

FAOB 

Spiritual Reading Section 192 The Mass Section . . 206 

Frequent Communion Sec- The Holy Pact . . . 207 

tion 195 The Visit Section . . 207 

The Knights and Ladies xhe Rosary Section . . 207 

of the Blessed Sacra- ^j^^ g.,^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ 

'"^"^ ^^^ Reparation .... 208 

A Plan for Schools . . 201 g^^^^^ ^^^^^ g^^^.^^ 208 

'"X'ertr t!^1n^creTse ^^ Holy Name Section 209 

of Frequent Communion 203 The Meditation Section . 210 

Daily Mass Section . . 205 The Section for Monthly 

Perpetual Praise Sec- Recollection .... 211 

tion 205 The Retreat Section . . 212 



Chapter VI — Sections for the Help 
OF THE Neighbor 216 

A Preliminary Survey . 216 Catholic Instruction 

Districting the Parish . 219 Leagues 232 

A Map of the Parish . 220 Special Needs . . . .233 

The Parish Welfare Sec- The Parish School-Aid 

tion 221 Section 234 

Organization of the Sec- The Parish Housekeepers 235 

tion 222 The Handiwork Section . 236 

The Parish Catalogue . 223 Section for Classes in 
Taking the Census . . 224 Cooking, Sewing, Car- 
Special Cases .... 224 P^^f^F^^S'T,, ^^^"^^ .„. 
„, ,, , , , . . Trammg, Etc. . . . 236 
The Monthly Visitation .225 ^ . ,, 5' .. , ^ « oo-r 
_. .. , ^r , ^^^ Friendly Visitors' Secbon 237 
Particular Needs . . . 226 m i » a • j o i.- ncr, 
„ , ^ ^ ^^ Travelers' Aid Section . 237 
Record Cards .... 226 o .. n t\ xt 
_, _ ._ ^ ^^^ Section for a Day Nur- 
The President .... 227 gery ...... 238 

The Church Building Sec- Section for Immigrants' 

tion 228 Classes 239 

Choosing the Members . 229 xhe Poor-Aid SecUon . 241 

The Right Way ... 231 Section for Business Ad- 

The Catechetical Section 231 vice 242 



Contents 11 

PAGE PAGB 

Section on Law and Prisoners' Aid Section . 3^0 

Medidne 242 xhe Athletics Section . 271 

The Boy Scouts' Section 243 The Juvenile Aid Section 2T2 

The Campfire Girls' Sec- xhe SociabiUty Section . 273 

n.u T ; 'r.J.. o 1. * ^T; The Home Finders' Sec- 

The Lonely Child Section 246 tion 275 

The CathoHc Literature The Mission Section . . 276 

^, ^ ^, ,.' I.,* ' * Supplies for the Missions 278 

The Catholic Literature nxu a u- t\ • i t? ^ nrm 

Section in CathoUc ^^^ Self-Denial Fund . 279 

Schools and Colleges . 247 Adopting a Mission . . 282 

The Catholic Literature Helping the School for 

Section in Rural Par- Catechists . . . .283 

ishes 249 Collecting Tinfoil, Etc. . 284 

A Church Door Library . 252 Books and Magazines for 

Study Clubs and Catho- the Missions . . . .284 

lie Literature . . .254 Helping the Home Mis- 
Subscriptions to Catholic sions 285 

Magazines .... 256 Catechetical Section . . 286 

The Catholic Press Week 257 Making New Vestments 

Buying Catholic Books . 258 from Old 287 

Getting Catholic Books Academies 288 

Into Public Libraries . 259 Academies for All . . 289 

A Catholic Public Library 261 ^j^^ g^^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^_ 

The Sodality Library . 262 emies 290 

Scripture Study ... 263 Academies in Philosophy 293 

Christ-Child Section . . 264 The Academy of History 295 

Correspondence Section . 264 ^^^ Academy of Apolo- 

The Choral Section . . 266 getics . . . . . . 297 

The Sanctuary Section . 267 The Academy of Social 

Mothers' Club Section . 268 Study 298 

The Christmas Cheer Sec- The Section for Art and 

tion 269 Architecture . . .301 

Chapter VII — The Sodality Unions 303 



How Undertaken . . 303 

The Right Leaders . . 304 

Preliminary Publicity . 305 

The Organization Meet- 
ing 310 



The Order of the Meeting 311 
Some Successful Unions 312 
The Constitution and By- 
Laws 312 



12 Contents 



PAGE 



Chapter VIII — The Director . . 320 

His Character and Duties 320 General Suggestions for 

Directors . . . .323 

Chapter IX — Success 325 

Alphabetical Index 327 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN 
PARISHES 

CHAPTER I 
ORGANIZING THE PARISH 

THE DIFFERING CONDITIONS 

IT is scarcely possible to lay down one plan 
of organization which will fit in with the 
needs of every parish. There is an immense 
diversity in parish conditions which makes it 
necessary to modify any general plan to meet 
local needs. Thus, in a small parish which has 
just lately been begun it is quite impossible to 
take up the various activities which are advisa- 
ble in a large, well-established parish of long 
standing. Hence the suggestions given herein 
must be adapted to the local conditions of each 
parish which it is desired to organize. Con- 
sider carefully the local conditions. Read at- 
tentively the suggestions given and then judge 
which of them will be acceptable and practical 
under the special circumstances. These same 

13 



14 Social Organization in Parishes 

remarks will apply to organization work in 
schools and in institutions. 

THE CHOICE OF GOOD WORKS 

It is well to take up at the start only those 
things which have a sound probability of suc- 
cess. Hence, in a young parish the first work 
of the Sodality should be of a sort calculated 
to build up the parish itself. Where the parish 
is of long standing and well-established, activi- 
ties for sociability and friendliness, the help of 
young people and the aid of the poor will be 
popular. By keeping in mind the principle 
that the faithful are likely to persevere longest 
in works which appeal most to their natural 
inclinations and to which they receive most en- 
couragement from their pastor, and that the 
pastor is likely most to encourage works in 
which he is most interested, one will be greatly 
aided in making a prudent selection of activi- 
ties to begin with. 

THE KEY MAN 

It is of very great importance, too, to see to 
it that for every activity begun there are sev- 
eral competent, active people who have the 
time, capacity and willingness to organize and 
keep up the work and who can be depended on 



Organizing the Parish 15 

to do so. It is a general principle of organiza- 
tion that some individual, sometimes called the 
"key man," is the prime mover of the whole 
organization and is the chief source of its en- 
ergy and success. It is of great importance, 
in beginning Sodality organization, to discover 
and develop and inspire these "key men.'' 
They are the dynamos that are to keep the 
society charged with energy. 

THE CONSTANT EFFORT 

One should never think that it will be enough 
merely to start a Sodality and then to trust it 
to its own devices. Like any other form of 
organization, the Sodality requires to be looked 
after constantly, encouraged, stimulated, given 
new work to relieve the monotony of the meet- 
ings and good instructions to keep up the zeal 
of the Sodalists. All its members should be 
made to feel the continual interest and expecta- 
tion of the pastor or director and his devotion 
to its welfare. It is a very efficient means to a 
very desirable end. But no one must think 
that it is a labor-sparing contrivance or a means 
of avoiding work. One may only claim for 
Sodality organization that it is a singularly 
efficient means of getting the maximum of 
fruit and profit out of one's labors for souls, 



16 Social Organization in Parishes 



IN one's own hands 



The methods of Sodality organization are 
very flexible and adaptable. One may easily 
change, modify, or discard any feature herein 
suggested which does not prove after a 
thorough trial to be practical in one's own cir- 
cumstances or to be manageable in one's own 
hands. Every one is not gifted with the same 
degree and kind of organizing talent. It is 
very seldom that one pastor can take over in 
its entirety and with all its details a plan of 
management which another pastor has found 
very successful. Not only local conditions, 
but differences of temperament and gifts on the 
part of the pastor himself must determine the 
most successful form of organization in any 
particular instance. 

APPLYING FOR AFFILIATION 

The first step toward organizing a Sodality 
is usually to secure the approval of the Bishop 
who is Ordinary of the place. Blanks can be 
obtained from the queen's work for this pur- 
pose. These blanks are to be filled out and 
the Bishop's signature secured. When the 
Bishop signs them the Sodality is in existence 
or, to use the technical term, is erected. The 



Organizing the Parish 17 

next step is to secure affiliation with the Head 
Sodahty at Rome. To do this, the fiUed-in and 
signed blank should be sent to the Reverend 
Father Provincial of the Province of the So- 
ciety of Jesus in which the Sodality is located 
or, for the Missouri Province, to the queen's 
WORK, with the request that a diploma be ob- 
tained of affiliation with the Head Sodahty at 
Rome. A dollar or two may be enclosed for 
postage, etc., but this is not required, and there 
is no fee for affiliation. This affiliation merely 
gives the right to the indulgences and privileges 
of the Head Sodality to all who are duly re- 
ceived into the Sodahty which has been affih- 
ated. A more detailed account of the method 
of applying for erection and affiliation will be 
found under the heading, "Applying for Erec- 
tion," etc. 

THE ORDER OF PROCEDURE 

The Sodality work may be organized and the 
applications for membership received either be- 
fore or after the erection or affiliation. A 
Sodality may be erected and affiliated before 
any members are enrolled. The Sodality is 
in existence as soon as the Bishop approves and 
erects it, and so this Sodality may proceed to 
organize fully, putting all its activities into 



18 Social Organization in Parishes 

shape even before the diploma from Rome ar- 
rives. Therefore the work of detailed organi- 
zation which we are about to describe may be 
done at any time either before or after the 
erection and affiliation. The usual and better 
mode of procedure, however, is first to obtain 
the approval of the Bishop, apply to Rome for 
a diploma, and so be ready to receive the Sodal- 
ists into a society fully established and endowed 
with all the indulgences and privileges. 

When a Sodality is first established or when 
a large number of new applicants for member- 
ship are received, it is better to admit the pros- 
pective members at first into the grade of 
candidates and keep them in this grade for 
three months or longer, until they have given 
proof of their sincerity and determination to 
live up to the ideals and rules of the Sodality. 
They may then be admitted to full member- 
ship. In the meantime the custom should be 
at once established and announced, that all, 
even the candidates, receive all the indulgences 
and privileges of Sodalists. 

PRELIMINARY STUDIES 

The pastor or members of the parish who 
contemplate organizing a Sodality should first 
make a careful study of the local conditions 



Organizing the Parish 19 

and map out a practical plan. The Sodality 
is one of the most flexible of organizations, and 
can be indefinitely varied in its activities so 
as to allow for the circumstances of parish, 
pastor and people. It is well to prepare a plan 
large enough and comprehensive enough to 
arouse interest and enlist cooperation. On the 
other hand it is best, too, to single out at the 
start the most needed and popular activities for 
emphasis, and not to put forward the whole 
plan at the very beginning, for fear of confus- 
ing the people and discouraging them by de- 
manding too much at the start. 

These preliminary studies of conditions in 
the parish, of local needs and opportunities, 
and of the persons who can be relied on to carry 
out the good works proposed, will suggest and 
define the lines on which the particular work 
will be directed in this especial parish. In 
case of doubt it is better to lean toward a few 
much-needed and popular activities, which can 
be speedily organized and made a success. 
Then when these have gotten well under way, 
others can be more readily added. 

BEGINNING THE ORGANIZATION 

The minimum required in the way of actual 
work at the start, will depend on circumstances. 



20 Social Organization in Parishes 

Where both pastor and people are ready and 
eager to take up the work, and where condi- 
tions are such as promise rather easy success, 
then it is possible in a day or two to make a 
good beginning and set the Sodality going to- 
ward effective work. The points to be secured 
are, first of all, a clear and appealing explana- 
tion of the Sodality ideal and methods, with 
definite and practical direction for the particu- 
lar works to be at once undertaken. Second, 
the director and officers of the Sodality are to 
be informed about their duties and the require- 
ments of the rules, and made to understand the 
importance of keeping up orderly zeal and 
persevering intereslt. Third, the individuals 
whom we have called the ''key men," the ac- 
tive workers who are to carry the burden of 
keeping up and systematizing the efforts along 
chosen lines, must be similarly informed and 
stirred up to do their part with persistent in- 
dustry. To a-ccomplish this will obviously take 
a longer or shorter time, according to local cir- 
cumstances and the degree of previous prepara- 
tion. 

PREPARATION 

The more previous preparation is made for 
the organization work the better. Leaflets 
should be sent to the promoters of the move- 



Organizing the Parish 21 

ment telling them of the general plan of or- 
ganization and enumerating the good works to 
be chosen from. They should be encouraged 
to begin at once to select the most practical 
activities, both spiritual and material, to decide 
what individuals are best fitted to lead in them, 
and to get as far forward as possible in inter- 
esting volunteers and in securing promises of 
cooperation. This latter has to be done, of 
course, by individual talks with the persons 
selected as likely leaders. 

For several Sundays before the day selected 
for a start, talks should be given at all the 
Masses, announcing the coming event and en- 
couraging and exhorting all to take their part 
in making it a success. The more previous in- 
terest and expectation the better, and whatever 
information can be imparted beforehand is so 
much more accomplished against the actual 
time of organization. Some persons require 
to be told the same thing a number of times 
before they quite assimilate what is meant. 
Hence, these repetitions and emphasizings be- 
forehand help effectively the actual start. 

SEVERAL WAYS OF ORGANIZING 

Supposing this preliminary work to have 
been well done, the organizing itself may be 



22 Social Organization in Parishes 

undertaken in several ways. The best of these 
is, of course, a mission or retreat which is ex- 
pressly designed and intended to culminate in 
Sodality organization. The exercises must, 
however, be highly specialized for the specific 
end in view. Thus, if a mission is given, the 
usual mission exercises and mission sermons 
must be adapted so as to culminate in the or- 
ganization of the Sodality. During the first 
few days of the mission this objective will not 
be so prominent, but during the last three days, 
when the zeal and fervor of the people are 
thoroughly aroused, there should be a system- 
atic and careful explanation of the spiritual and 
the material side of Sodality organization, and 
the good resolves which are to be the fruit of 
the mission should be directed toward the three- 
fold aim of the Sodality : personal holiness, the 
help of the neighbor, and the defense and 
spread of our holy Faith in honor of the Blessed 
Virgin. 

A RETREAT OR MISSION 

Where a retreat is chosen as the means of 
preparing for Sodality organization, the whole 
retreat should be built up with the Sodality as 
its objective. The conferences, while begin- 
ning on the usual lines of the retreat, should be 



Organizing the Parish 23 

made to turn toward the ideals and practices of 
the Sodalist. Examples, specific recommen- 
dations, suggested resolutions, all should lean 
toward the Sodality and be colored with devo- 
tion to the Blessed Mother, expressing itself in 
a practical and active zeal for personal sanctifi- 
cation, the help of the neighbor and the defense 
and spread of the Faith. 

THE LASTING FRUIT 

The conferences of the retreat should take 
up the explanation of the rules of the Sodality, 
particularly the first rule, which explains its 
whole purpose and which may be made the sub- 
ject of more than one exhortation to develop 
the ideals which it proposes, — a filial piety to- 
ward the Blessed Virgin expressing itself in 
exemplary Catholicity, which will comprise the 
threefold zeal just mentioned. These specific 
and practical aims will be found to contribute 
greatly to the interest and lasting profit of the 
retreat or mission. It is often complained of 
by those who give and those who attend such 
exercises that their results, though precious and 
most perceptible, vanish too soon and are lost 
in the wear and distraction of everyday life. 
By making the retreat or mission culminate in 
the establishment or in the reorganization of a 



24 Social Organization in Parishes 

Sodality with its various and appealing works 
of spiritual and corporal mercy, and with its 
activities for self, the neighbor, and the Church, 
the mission or retreat may be given an outward 
and lasting fruit which will preserve much 
longer in the souls of the people, the holy im- 
pressions and good resolves which were the re- 
sult of their spiritual exertions. 

Of course, the subject of Sodality organiza- 
tion should not be forced too soon upon the at- 
tention of the faithful, nor dragged in indis- 
creetly from the beginning. The idea of the 
personal consecration of the Sodalist and the 
work of the Sodality may be made to develop 
naturally and interestingly from the basic ideas 
presented dui'ing the retreat, for the Sodality 
is, after all, an epitome of personal goodness 
and zeal for the help of others, and its ideals 
and methods merely systematize and make con- 
crete the Christian life of to-day with its devo- 
tions and apostolates. Such a mission or re- 
treat will have filled the devout members of the 
congregation with interest in the Sodality, and 
with a wish to join and persevere therein. 
Extraordinary efforts should be made to gar- 
ner in this harvest. Meanwhile, all the usual 
methods which make for the success of a retreat 
or mission should be used to the utmost, so that 



Organizing the Parish 25 

all the regular fruits to be expected may be 
reaped from the exercises by all, while at the 
same time those who are especially fitted to be 
leaders in Sodality work may be inspired and 
instructed, as much as they need, to succeed 
and persevere. 

PLANS FOR MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN 

In the meantime, and even before the begin- 
ning of the mission or retreat, an energetic cam- 
paign should have been carried on for members. 
This can be done in various ways. (1) The 
parish may be divided into districts, each dis- 
trict put in charge of a captain and men and 
women assistants, and names taken by a house- 
to-house canvass for candidates for Sodality 
membership. All who wish may enroll their 
names as candidates, as those who are disquali- 
fied for Sodality membership will be discovered 
and eliminated before the candidates are re- 
ceived into full membership. (2) Another 
way is to estimate how many persons there are 
in the parish who should belong to the Sodality, 
and appoint one canvasser or promoter for 
every ten or fifteen prospective members. 
Each promoter will then be asked to enroll fif- 
teen names for the list of candidates during the 
course of the campaign. These promoters 



26 Social Organization in Parishes 

may then be made eonsultors of the SodaUty, 
and may remain in charge of the band which 
they have enlisted, getting new members to 
take the place of any candidates who fall away. 
(3) Another plan is to have secretaries at the 
doors of the church after services, provided 
with a record book for receiving the names of 
candidates. A combination of these methods, 
or any others that promise success, may be used, 
the main point being to secure beforehand the 
signed applications of as many promising can- 
didates as possible. The names, addresses and 
telephone numbers should be carefully recorded 
together with a notation of the class to which 
the individual belongs, e.g. Young Men, 
Married Men, Young Women, or Married 
Women, etc. In this way the framework of 
the Sodalities is built up beforehand, and it 
only remains to amplify or trim off as occasion 
requires. It is much better not to leave every- 
thing until the last moment, but to attend to 
all the details which can be managed before- 
hand, and to prepare the minds of the faithful 
as far as possible to assimilate rapidly and 
to retain faithfully the explanations given. 
Whatever can thus be done in advance is so 
much gained toward success. In fact, it is a 
greater guarantee of the Sodality's stability. 



Organizing the Parish 27 

AS CANDIDATES ONLY 

At the same time, it should be kept in mind 
that none should be received into full member- 
ship in the Sodality until they have shown their 
fitness and worthiness to be members. All 
promising applicants may, however, be ad- 
mitted as candidates, and after a probation of 
three months those who have shown their fit- 
ness will be taken into full membership. In 
the first drive for members, every one who ap- 
plies may be thus enrolled as a candidate. 

Although it is desirable to get as many likely 
candidates as possible, still it must be kept in 
mind that mere numerical strength is never to 
be made the test of success in Sodality organi- 
zation. Better to have a small, zealous, and 
active group of Sodalists who persevere in try- 
ing to carry out the Sodality ideals and pur- 
poses, than a large, unorganized, and passive 
membership. The purpose of the campaign 
should be to get in all the likely material, and 
then carefully to eliminate those who show no 
real intention of living up to the Sodality rules. 
This subsequent pruning is unpleasant and 
sometimes painful, but it makes the Sodality 
wax green and bear good fruit. 

Where a retreat or mission is held to establish 



28 Social Organization in Parishes 

or reorganize the Sodality, the last exercise will 
be a meeting or series of meetings to organize 
the Sodality. When it has not been possible 
to have a mission or a retreat, the director of the 
Sodality will do well to persuade some well- 
informed priest familiar with this work, or 
the director of some well-organized and flour- 
ishing Sodality in the neighborhood, to come 
and explain the Sodality and its work and to 
lead in the organization. In case the pastor, 
or his assistant, is to do the organizing himself, 
he should at least make a very careful prepara- 
tion by studying the suggestions contained in 
this manual, looking over the bound volumes of 
THE queen's work, and in particular, reading 
the accounts of flourishing Sodalities contained 
therein, familiarizing himself as far as possible 
with all the outlines of the work. He will thus 
be able to speak from personal enthusiasm and 
knowledge, and be able to communicate to the 
prospective Sodalists definite suggestions and 
practical encouragement. 

THE ORGANIZATION CONFERENCES 

Whether or no a retreat or mission precedes, 
the organization day should be assigned some 
time beforehand and, as has been said, an- 
nouncements should be made and brief talks 



Organizing the Parish 29 

given for some Sundays previous. Sunday is 
usually the most convenient day for the actual 
work of organization, and the priest who is to 
do the organizing should speak at all the 
Masses, very cordially and insistently inviting 
all the members of the parish who are eligible 
and who wish to consecrate themselves to the 
Blessed Virgin and share in the benefits of the 
Sodality, to come to the organization meeting. 
In these talks he may also briefly treat of the 
nature and purposes of the Sodality as ex- 
plained in the first rule of the Rules of 1910; 
he may speak of the Sodality indulgences and 
privileges, and may emphasize the threefold 
work of the Sodalists in honor of the Blessed 
Virgin. He should dwell on the requirements 
for a good Sodalist, that exemplary Catholicity 
which will show itself in the threefold activity 
of greater personal holiness, of zeal for the 
spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and of 
effort for the spread and defense of the 
Church. These talks will necessarily be brief, 
but should be very animated and interesting, 
because they have as their chief purpose to 
arouse interest in the Sodality, to give an ap- 
preciation of the benefits of membership, and 
to stir up the hearers to resolve to attend the 
meeting and enroll their names as Sodalists. 



30 Social Organization in Parishes 

A TYPICAL DISCOURSE 

A typical outline for such a talk is as fol- 
lows : Introduction ; Your pastor has decided 
to secure for this parish the great spiritual ben- 
efits of the Sodality (or, to renew in the parish 
the great spiritual blessings which the Sodality 
can impart). This means, for every one who 
will seize the opportunity, new help to sanctify 
and save his own soul, and greater chances to 
practice the spiritual and corporal works of 
mercy and to take part in spreading and de- 
fending the Faith. 

What then is the Sodality of the Blessed 
Virgin? Its end and nature are given in the 
very first rule of the edition of 1910. The 
speaker may then read and comment on each 
passage of this rule. It declares that the So- 
dality is a religious body. Therefore, in join- 
ing it, one becomes affiliated to a society estab- 
lished by the Church, and gains a right to the 
privileges and indulgences conferred on its 
members. St. Francis de Sales said that the 
Sodality is a sort of religious order for the laity. 
The purpose of this society is to foster an ar- 
dent devotion, reverence, and filial love toward 
the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here one may 
dwell on the meaning of the phrase "filial love." 



Organizing the Parish 31 

It connotes imitation of the virtues of our 
Heavenly Mother, i. e., personal holiness, and 
zeal in her service — ^the spiritual and corporal 
works of mercy. Through this devotion the 
Sodality seeks to make its members good Cath- 
olics, and here one may emphasize that in en- 
tering the Sodality the new member should en- 
deavor to be more exemplary in conduct, a bet- 
ter Catholic than before, sincerely bent on sanc- 
tifying himself in his state of life, and zealous, 
as far as his state permits, to sanctify and save 
his neighbor, and to spread and defend the 
Faith. This threefold activity — of personal 
holiness, the help of the neighbor and the 
spread and defense of the Faith — sums up the 
efforts of the Sodalists in honor of the Blessed 
Virgin. 

THE ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP 

If time allows, the speaker may go on to 
dwell upon some of the advantages of member- 
ship in the Sodality. Our Holy Father Bene- 
dict XV, speaking to the Sodalists at Rome on 
the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of his 
own admission into the Sodality while he was 
a student at the Collegio Copranica at Rome, 
declared that he had been informed that there 
are now in the world some forty thousand So- 



32 Social Organization in Parishes 

dalities with a total membership of about seven 
million. The Holy Father urged all who 
could do so to join this blessed society, em- 
phasizing the fact that the Sodality is for every 
age, for both sexes, and for all classes of per- 
sons, for men as well as women, for the learned 
and simple, the rich and poor, the influential 
and the lowly. The Holy Father emphasized 
the great good which comes from well-organ- 
ized and fervent Sodalities, saying that if all 
the Sodalists of the world realized their holy 
opportunity to work for the neighbor and the 
Church in honor of the Blessed Virgin, the So- 
dality would become an anchor of salvation for 
the entire earth. He urged that all good Cath- 
olics should join the Sodality, and being en- 
tered in, should work for their neighbor and 
the Church according to Sodality traditions, 
declaring that those only are worthy the name 
of Sodahsts, who, besides attending to their 
own personal sanctification, also perform cor- 
poral and spiritual works of mercy according 
as the needs of their parish require and as their 
pastor directs them. 

THE LEAFLET, "bE A SODALIST" 

Leaflets may be distributed and brieflj^ ex- 
plained, which enumerate the advantages of be- 



Organizing the Parish 33 

ing a Sodalist and tell of the Sodalit}^ indulg- 
ences. The leaflet, "Be a Sodahst," which can 
be obtained from the queen's work, gives the 
following advantages of Sodality membership: 

(1) An intimate union with seven million 
Sodalists throughout the world, including a 
vast number of the hierarchy, clergy, and re- 
ligious, and the best and holiest among the 
laity, men as well as women. 

(2) The opportunity to gain the rich and 
numerous indulgences of the Sodality, includ- 
ing over 100 plenary indulgences yearly, be- 
sides very many partial, and other plenary in- 
dulgences. 

(3) The prayers of Sodalists in heaven, who 
must now number many millions. 

(4) The wise guidance of the Director, and 
the good example of fellow Sodalists. 

(5) The benefit of attendance at meetings 
and instructions, and the opportunity to take 
part in the many good works of the Sodality. 

(6) The chance to help and influence others 
for good, by becoming an exemplary Sodalist. 

(7) The special protection of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary, to whom all Sodalists, in a par- 
ticular way, consecrate themselves. 

(8) The protection from temptation, and 
the encouragement to well-doing, which come 



34 Social Organization in Parishes 

from the thought that one is enrolled in the So- 
dality, that is to say, in the close and intimate 
family of the Mother of God. 

(9) The grace of perseverance, which those 
may hope for who are specially devoted to the 
Blessed Virgin. 

(10) Many special graces which God will 
give to Sodalists through the intercession of the 
Blessed Virgin, their Mother. 

(11) Many temporal advantages, such as 
the benefits of Catholic association; mutual 
helpfulness ; counsel in need ; help in hard un- 
dertakings; a share in the advantages of the 
benefit Sections, where these are established; 
encouragement to Catholic reading, through 
the library; and sociability and good company, 
through social meetings and entertainments. 

(12) After death, prayers and Masses of- 
fered by the Sodality for its departed mem- 
bers. 

(13) The benefit of a plenary indulgence on 
the occasion of every Mass said for the repose 
of one's soul. 

(14) "Generally speaking," says St. Al- 
phonsus, "we find more sins in one who does not 
belong to the Sodality, than in twenty who are 
members of it." 

(15) Hence we say of Sodalists what St. 



Orgamzing the Parish 35 

Bernard says of members of religious orders. 
In comparison with others : — they lead a purer 
life; they fall into sin less often; if they fall, 
they fall less seriously; they rise again more 
easily; they are more cautious ; they enjoy more 
tranquil rest; they have more grace and more 
of the favor of Heaven ; they more easily make 
satisfaction for their sins and avoid purgatory ; 
they die with more confidence and resignation ; 
they obtain a more glorious crown in heaven. 
The talk should conclude with a stirring and 
effective invitation to attend the organization 
meeting in the afternoon or in the evening, 
learn more of the details of this Sodalitv work, 
and enroll their names among the candidates 
for membership. 

THE ORGANIZATION MEETING 

In the afternoon or evening of the organiza- 
tion Sunday, a meeting or meetings should be 
held to receive candidates, take the names of 
volunteers for the various sections, and organ- 
ize for active work. One or several meetings 
will be required for this purpose according to 
the number to be received, the different divis- 
ions to be organized, and the work to be under- 
taken. Where only one division, as the Young 
Ladies, the Married Women, Young Men or 



36 Social Organization in Parishes 

Married Men, is to be organized, one or two 
meetings will suffice. Where the whole parish 
is to be organized a series of meetings may be 
necessary. The business should be dispatched 
without unnecessary delay. The time should 
be laid out beforehand, and an order of pro- 
ceedings written out so that everything can 
move briskly. 

At these meetings a more detailed and 
lengthy explanation of the end and nature of 
the Sodality of Our Lady may be given, the 
above mentioned points for the morning talk 
being amplified, and any detail not covered in 
the morning being brought out, so that the So- 
dalists may have as full and definite a notion 
as possible of what they are to do. Some ex- 
planation should then be given of the other 
rules of the Sodality, especially article 6, which 
enumerates the duties common to all Sodalists, 
and article 3, which treats of sections and acad- 
emies. Emphasis should be laid on the iruth, 
that to become a Sodalist means to consecrate 
one's self for life to the Blessed Virgin, — 
"Once a Sodalist, always a Sodalist" — and that 
though the rules of the Sodality are not bind- 
ing under pain of sin, still every candidate for 
membership should have the honest purpose of 
trying to observe the rules, of becoming a more 



Organizing the Parish 37 

exemplary Catholic in honor of the Blessed 
Mother, and of participating in some of the 
works of the Sodality. 

Where practicable, it is better to have all the 
names and addresses of the candidates already 
inscribed, and to have them divided into bands 
of ten or fifteen candidates, each band being in 
charge of a consultor. Where this has not 
been feasible, the names and addresses of 
the candidates may be taken as quickly as pos- 
sible by officers appointed for that purpose. It 
is well to see that plenty of paper and pencils 
are on hand to take down the names of any new 
applicants. The more thoroughly the work of 
registration and grouping of the candidates has 
been done beforehand, the more quickly and 
efficiently the organization meeting will pro- 
ceed. It is also a help to have each band of 
candidates seated together in charge of its re- 
spective consultor. 

EXPLAINING THE SECTIONS 

When the enrollment has been finished, the 
works to be undertaken by the sections of the 
Sodality should be announced and explained — 
material for this explanation may be found un- 
der the various headings of this volume deal- 
ing with the work of the sections. As has been 



38 Social Organization in Parishes 

said elsewhere, the activities chosen should be 
suited to the Sodalists, not too many to begin 
with, lest the workers be discouraged, and yet 
not too few nor too scanty, in order to excite 
proper interest and enthusiasm. Due regard 
should be had to the circumstances and ability 
of the workers, and as much should be given 
them to do as they will probably be able to ac- 
complish successfully and within a reasonable 
time. 

The general works recommended for every 
Sodality are : a section for the aid of the mis- 
sions; another for the promotion of frequent 
communion through the crusade of the Knights 
and Ladies of the Blessed Sacrament; a third 
for catechetical work; and a fourth for mem- 
bership and sociability. These sections will be 
found treated in more detail under the appro- 
priate heading in the division of this book which 
deals with the sections. 

ENROLLING THE VOLUNTEERS 

Where possible, it is well to secure before- 
hand the names of the Sodalists who wish to 
volunteer for this or that particular activity. 
A secretary may then be appointed for each 
section, who will call the roll and also take 
down the names and addresses of any new vol- 



Organizing the Parish 39 

unteers who present themselves. Where the 
meeting is held in a hall, a part of the hall may 
be designated for each section to assemble in, 
and a meeting may then be held of each sec- 
tion, to organize by electing or having ap- 
pointed the president, treasurer, and any other 
officer that may be needed for the section. The 
organizer may then go from one section to an- 
other answering questions, giving further ex- 
planations, and offering any help that may be 
needed to get the work of the section under 
way. 

The same procedure can be used when the 
meeting is held in church, though it is not so 
convenient to carry on the organization work 
there, because of the difficulty of making ex- 
planations and of carrying on discussions. 
Still, the Sodalists may be encouraged, even 
when the meeting is in church, to ask questions 
and propose difficulties, since the work is holy 
and not unworthy even of those holy precincts. 

A HASTY METHOD OF ORGANIZING 

Where preliminary preparation is impossi- 
ble, and it is expedient for some reason or other 
to organize the Sodality at once, this may be 
done at the first meeting, in the following way: 
First, the members of the congregation may be 



40 Social Organization in Parishes 

asked to divide themselves according to sex and 
age, the young men coming to the front and 
right of the church or hall, the young women 
to the front and left, the married men to the 
rear and right, and the married women to the 
rear and left. Secretaries should then be ap- 
pointed, who will take the names and addresses 
of all candidates. 

ALTERNATIVE PLANS 

When this division has been made, the for- 
mation of sections will next be announced, to or- 
ganize the work undertaken. Two courses are 
possible. Each division may be assigned one 
work, as for example, the young women may be 
given work for Catholic literature ; the married 
women, work for the missions ; the young men, 
work for boys ; and the married men, the finan- 
cial aid of the church and school. These ac- 
tivities may, of course, be varied to meet the 
needs of the parish. It is well at the same time 
to give each division some spiritual activity, 
as for example, to the young women, edification 
and good example ; to the married women, cul- 
tivating the Catholic home-spirit ; to the young 
men and married men, the activities of the 
Holy Name. In this case, each division of the 
Sodality will begin at once with its assigned 



Organizing the Parish 41 

activities and add others as the circumstances 
and needs of the parish suggest. This is a 
good plan for a small and lately-established 
parish. For large parishes, the second method 
now to be explained will be found more prac- 
ticable. 

This second method is to organize several 
sections in each division of the Sodality, and to 
assign a place in the church or hall for each 
section. Thus, if the following sections are 
chosen to begin with, all those who wish to work 
for the missions will now be asked to come to 
the front and right of the church; those who 
wish to work for membership and sociability to 
the front and left; those who choose catecheti- 
cal work to the rear and right; and those who 
prefer to help Catholic literature to the rear and 
left. If more sections are to be organized, 
other locations in the church or hall may be de- 
signated, as for instance, the middle right, mid- 
dle front, middle rear, etc. 

When the various volunteers have gathered 
into groups at the places indicated, secretaries 
previously appointed for each section in each 
Sodality will take the names and addresses of 
those in each section who belong to their Sodal- 
ity. By announcing the name and Sodality of 
each secretary or by having each one wear a 



42 Social Organization in Parishes 

small card with the name of his or her Sodality 
written upon it, the grouping and taking of 
names will be facilitated. In case only one 
division is to be organized at a time, as for in- 
stance in the case of a retreat for young ladies 
only, which is to culminate in the formation of 
a Young Ladies' Sodality, this procedure is 
comparatively simple. Where it is designed 
to organize the whole parish in this way, the 
preliminaries should be still more carefully at- 
tended to, competent secretaries chosen for each 
section, and these secretaries drilled beforehand 
so that they can help to marshal the Sodalists 
when they come forward to volunteer. 

SELECTING THE OFFICERS 

When the names, addresses and telephone 
numbers of the volunteers have been carefully 
taken in each section, the next step is to appoint 
or elect competent officers for each section. 
These officers are usually a president, secre- 
tary, and treasurer, who have the usual duties 
attached to such offices. In case any dispute 
arises concerning authority, it is to be settled 
by the president of the section, and appeal can 
be had from his decision to the prefect, and 
then to the director. This will, however, sel- 
dom be necessary. The officers of the section, 



Organizing the Parish 43 

like those of the Sodahty, may either be ap- 
pointed or elected according to the judgment 
of the director, assisted by the advice of the 
Sodalists. Where it is fairly certain that the 
best individuals will be selected by the Sodal- 
ists themselves, the method of election has the 
advantage of being more spontaneous, and of 
putting the Sodalists into closer touch with, 
and submission to, the officers for whose ap- 
pointment they themselves are responsible. 
Where there is any serious doubt as to the 
good result of election, the method of appoint- 
ing by the director is to be preferred. 

A COMMENDABLE WAY OF ELECTING 

In some Sodalities an intermediate method 
has been successfully followed. The director 
chooses two or three names for each office, and 
submits them to the Sodalists as his nominees 
for the position to be filled. The Sodalists 
then elect from among these nominees the one 
they think most eligible. This insures that the 
person appointed shall be at least acceptable 
to the pastor, and competent in his opinion for 
the duties of the office. On the other hand, it 
gives the Sodalists the last word, and makes the 
person elected, their personal choice for the 
position in question. Usually this matter of 



44 Social Organization in Parishes 

appointment of officers will not present very 
serious difficulties, but sometimes circumstances 
arise, such as the existence of cliques, jealous- 
ies, and factions, which make the appointment 
of officers a matter of uncommon delicacy. In 
any event, however, the choice of officers is of 
extreme importance, and every effort must be 
made to put in authority those individuals who 
can do most to make the work a practical suc- 
cess both from the spiritual and material view- 
point. They will be the mainsprings of every 
endeavor of the Sodality and, consequently, 
they should be well qualified for their offices. 

What has been said above applies as well to 
the appointment of the general officers of the 
Sodality as to those of the sections. When the 
Sodality is already in existence and is now be- 
ing merely reorganized, the question arises 
whether to retain the former officers or to elect 
or appoint new ones. When the former offi- 
cers are competent and have not been in office 
too long, it may be better to retain them. 
When, however, they have not made a good 
record and probably will not be successful in 
their duties under new conditions, they should 
by all means be replaced. Positions of trust 
in the Sodality should be allotted with a view 
to the interest of the Sodality itself, and it 



Organizing the Parish 45 

should never be thought that any one must be 
continued in office for fear of hurting that per- 
son's feelings by retirement. Much less should 
the mere fact that persons have been in office for 
a long time, be a reason for continuing them 
there. On the contrary, a rotation in office is 
often necessary for the good of the Sodality. 
Some Sodalities have the practice of electing a 
new set of officers every year, and where there 
is enough good material, this plan has great ad- 
vantages. The length of term of the officers 
will, however, depend on the decision of the di- 
rector, guided by the customs of the Sodality 
and the advice of the Sodalists. A year is the 
usual term of office. 

THE OrriCERS AND THEIR DUTIES 

The appointment or election of the general 
officers of the Sodality may follow at once, 
after the organization of the sections. These 
officers, as named in section 18 of the rules of 
1910, are as follows: The major officers or 
council, composed of a prefect, two assistant 
prefects, a secretary, six or more consultors, an 
instructor of candidates and a treasurer. 
"When circumstances render it advisable," the 
rule goes on, "the director will appoint vice- 
officers, a vice-secretary, a vice-instructor, a 



46 Social Organization in Parishes 

vice-treasurer, or others entirely new, and can 
give to the Socialists who hold these offices the 
character of major officers." 

Besides this Council, minor officers can he 
appointed, such as sacristans, recorders, librar- 
ians and readers, who have duties that are 
purely executive. More or fewer of these offi- 
cers can be appointed according to the Sodal- 
ity's need. A great deal of discretion is given 
to the director, both in determining the number 
and character of the officers and the method of 
their appointment or election, and in fixing the 
length of their term and the exact scope of their 
duties. By reading article 4, of the rules of 
1910, which has to do with the government of 
the Sodality, the powers of the director become 
quite clear. It is understood, of course, that 
these large powers be always exercised with 
tact and consideration. This is especially true 
in regard to the appointment of, and dealings 
with, the officers. 

After the appointment or election of the gen- 
eral officers of the Sodality, opportunity should 
be given by the organizer for questions from 
the Sodalists on any point or difficulty which 
has risen in their minds, concerning any part of 
these proceedings or of the future workings and 
activities of the Sodality. As the Sodalists 



Organizing the Parish 47 

may be slow in asking questions, it is well to 
have a few prepared beforehand, to bring up 
difficulties and ask questions on some points of 
general interest. These questions and answers 
may give some others courage to bring out their 
personal queries, and it is very likely that what 
any one asks will be of interest and profit to 
all. 

THE INFORMATION MEETING 

This information meeting, as it may be 
called, is better held in a hall than in a church. 
If time allows, it is more effective to have such 
a meeting on a different occasion from the or- 
ganization meeting, both to avoid unduly pro- 
tracting the organization meeting, and to give 
the Sodalists an opportunity to think matters 
over and formulate their questions. Still, 
where time presses, all this can be done on one 
occasion. It stands to reason, however, that 
the more thorough the preparation beforehand, 
and the more time and effort are given to the 
work of organization, the larger and more 
permanent will be the fruit. 

SECTION MEETINGS 

Where possible, it is well to have a series of 
brief meetings in which the various sections can 



48 Social Organization in Parishes 

come together for special instructions on the 
particular activity they are to engage in. This 
may be managed by setting aside an evening 
following the organization meeting, when all 
the volunteers will assemble, or at least as many 
sections as can be conveniently dealt with at one 
time. Each section will then group itself 
around its officers in the part of the hall as- 
signed to it. The organizer will visit each 
group in turn to give further directions, answer 
questions, and smooth out difficulties. He will 
give a brief address before beginning this in- 
dividual visitation of the groups, instructing all 
the groups to begin at once the discussion of 
their work, so as to use the time profitably until 
he gets to them, and while he is dealing with the 
other sections. It may be well on this occasion 
to get each of the presidents of the sections to 
prepare a short talk, outlining the work pro- 
posed, which can be given while the organizer is 
busy elsewhere. 

When this meeting is held in a hall, two or 
three of the Sodalists may give short prepared 
talks, and it is always helpful to have the pastor 
and director of the Sodality say a few brief 
words on all these various occasions, expressing 
interest and enthusiasm for the work, and 
promising active copperation and encourage^ 



Organizing the Parish 49 

merit. In fact, the approval and lively aid of 
the pastor and director are always presupposed 
in everything that has been said concerning this 
work of organization. Parish activities rest di- 
rectly on the priest himself, and though he 
should give all opportunity and encouragement 
to his people, allowing them initiative and 
credit, still they will look to him to be the guid- 
ing spirit, and if they see him lose interest or 
stop trying, their own efforts will soon flag and 
cease. The organizer will find it quite easy 
to answer questions and give suggestions, if he 
keeps in mind the simple principles of organiza- 
tion: Give every one a definite task, not too 
small to be uninteresting nor too large to be 
impracticable under the circumstances. Dis- 
tribute authority and responsibility, and let 
every officer feel that he or she has a definite 
work and will have credit for doing it. Be sure 
to get persons in charge who are competent to 
direct and who will persevere. 

The organizer should also master the sug- 
gestions and details given in this manual. A 
certain amount of latitude has, of course, to be 
allowed in each place because of varying local 
conditions. While keeping in mind, therefore, 
the general traditions and rules of the Sodality, 
the organizer should try to make his sugges- 



50 Social Organization in Parishes 

tions and directions practical, in view of the 
conditions in the particular parish. For this 
purpose, careful consultation should be had 
with the pastor and with experienced members 
of the parish. These consultations have the 
added advantage of acquainting the pastor and 
director, as well as the leading members of the 
parish, with the plans, and disposing them to 
carry out with more energy, what they have 
taken part in devising. 

THE RETURN MEETING 

Where circumstances allow, it is sometimes 
well to announce at the close of the organiza- 
tion meeting, that within a specified time, say 
four or six months from date, the organizer will 
return to hold another meeting, at which time 
he will be pleased to see what progress has been 
made, and to give further suggestions and en- 
couragement. The anticipation of his return 
will give the Sodalists something to look for- 
ward to, and it will be an incentive to greater 
industry. 

A SUBSEQUENT CANVASS 

Even where the preliminary work and the 
organization work have been very carefully 
carried out, it will often be found advisable to 



Organizing the Parish 51 

have another thorough canvass for members. 
This may be done by appointing a consultor for 
each district, apportioning the districts so that 
they can be easily covered by a few persons in 
a short time. Each consultor will then secure 
as many assistants as are useful, and will make 
a careful house to house canvass, inviting all ac- 
tive and zealous members of the parish to be- 
come candidates for membership in the Sodal- 
ity. This canvass will also have the advantage 
of making the consultors acquainted with the 
district in which they live. It is recommended 
to have each consultor in charge of a band of 
from ten to fifteen fellow Sodalists, and where 
possible, this band should be made up of Sodal- 
ists who live in the same district as the con- 
sultor. 

In making this canvass, and in general when 
securing candidates for the Sodality, it should 
be kept in mind that it is not the number of 
names on the roll, but the fervor and activity 
of the members, which makes a really good So- 
dality. On the one hand, therefore, it should 
be the object to reach every single eligible per- 
son in the parish and invite him or her to join. 
But on the other hand, those who are found 
to be inactive and to become merely nominal 
members, should be energetically eliminated. 



52 Social Organization in Parishes 

Moreover, those who are evidently unsuited 
and do not give promise of becoming and re- 
maining fervent Sodalists, should not even be 
admitted in the first place as candidates. To 
get all the active and promising members of the 
parish into the ranks of the candidates, and 
them only, should be the object of the canvass. 

WHERE THE PASTOR HIMSELF ORGANIZES 

Where, for one reason or another, the pastor 
cannot obtain the help of any one else for the 
organization work, he may utilize the foregoing 
suggestions to work out a plan for himself. 
After speaking of the coming organization or 
reorganization of the Sodality for some Sun- 
days in advance, he will ask the active members 
of the congregation to assemble at some con- 
venient time and day, as for example, Sunday 
afternoon, and will explain the nature of So- 
dality organization, its benefits to the individual 
and the parish, the conditions and requirements 
of membership, the duties and responsibilities 
assumed by the Sodalists, and the privileges 
and indulgences which membership confers. 
The outline of the talk above suggested for the 
organizer will supply him with material for his 
remarks. 

He will then carry out so far as practicable 



Organizing the Parish 53 

the other suggestions given for organizing, 
making allowance for special conditions inJiis 
parish, and for the particular works that he 
has decided to undertake. The preliminary 
steps of choosing the leaders, appointing secre- 
taries, etc., etc., as described in the foregoing 
suggestions, will be found helpful and may be 
adapted to suit the conditions even of small and 
new parishes. It will thus be seen that the 
plan of organization of the Sodality, like the 
Sodality itself, admits of great variety and 
flexibility and may be successfully managed in 
a number of ways. 

ANOTHER WAY OF BEGINNING 

When circumstances make it advisable, the 
Sodality organization may be begun by calling 
a preliminary meeting of a small inner circle 
of more fervent and capable parishioners, ex- 
plaining to them the purpose and scope of the 
Sodality as hereinbefore explained, and send- 
ing them out to canvass quietly for members. 
By this method the individual influence of a 
select body of parishioners is made use of, to 
interest and enroll the others. Once the mem- 
bership is formed, the first public meeting and 
subsequent proceedings may be conducted as 
suggested in the preceding pages. 



54 Social Organization in Parishes 

A CONCRETE INSTANCE 

It may be well by way of illustration to give 
some actual experiences in the organization of 
Sodalities or in the revival of semi-obsolete 
ones. We shall first take the instance of a very 
large and well-to-do city parish where there 
were no organizations to speak of. A new 
pastor was appointed and he wished to put in 
action at once a great variety of good works, 
and at the same time keep to the principle of 
unity, and avoid multiplication and overlap- 
ping. He therefore asked that the whole par- 
ish be organized on Sodality lines to include the 
boys and girls in the school, the young men, the 
young women, the married men, and married 
women of the parish. A Sunday was given to 
the work. Sermons were delivered at all the 
Masses urging the people to respond to the call 
of their pastor, and take up the much needed 
work of the parish in honor of the Blessed Vir- 
gin. Meetings were announced for the after- 
noon; first, for the young ladies at half past 
two; second, for the mothers of the parish at 
four o'clock ; and third, for the young men and 
married men together at eight o'clock in the 
evening. Owing to the size of the parish, it 
was necessary to have these three organization 



Organizing the Parish 55 

meetings instead of one. At the meeting of the 
young ladies, the object and work of the So- 
dality was explained as suggested in the above 
paragraphs, and the entire field of possible ef- 
fort in the parish on the part of young women 
was outlined, sections being suggested for each 
one of the activities. Thus there was to be a 
section for sewing for their own parish church,, 
for poor parishes and missions, remaking of 
vestments for the missions, and sewing for the 
poor. A dramatic section was to organize en- 
tertainments for the parish and for the poor 
in institutions ; a sociability section to promote 
Catholic sociability; a mission section, to work 
for the home and foreign missions; a choral 
club, for concerts and oratorios; the parish 
school aid section, to conduct a lunch for the 
parish school children, aid the Sisters to look 
out for truants, and help on the backward pu- 
pils; a section for Catholic literature, to study 
and write ; a catechetical section, to instruct the 
Catholic children in the public schools, etc. The 
pastor then arose and asked all that wished to 
join the sewing section to move off to a desig- 
nated set of pews. Mentioning each one of the 
other sections in order, he indicated the part 
of the church whither those who wished to vol- 
unteer for that activity were to betake them- 



56 Social Organization in Parishes 

selves. In this way, all those present were 
grouped according to the activity that most ap- 
pealed to them. Each group then elected a 
president and secretary, and the secretary took 
down the names, addresses and telephone num- 
bers of those in the section. The church was 
then cleared for the mothers' meeting, and the 
«ame explanations were made and an invitation 
issued to the mothers to join a sewing section, 
a section of parish housekeepers to look after 
the material side of the parish belongings, and 
a section for welcoming newcomers, which was 
to divide among its members the whole parish, 
so that each member would take a block or the 
side of the block in which she resided and look 
out for strangers, finding out whether they 
were Catholics, and offering to introduce them 
to parish activities. Finally in the evening, the 
joint meeting of the young men and married 
men was held, at which the instruction on the 
Sodality was repeated. The married men 
were invited to take care of the poor of the 
parish and to build a parish school. The 
young men were assigned the duty of taking 
care of the poor boys of the parish, and were 
enlisted in work for their own welfare and for 
the help of the parish school. As a result of 
this one day's work the enthusiasm and interest 



Organizing the Parish 57 

of the parish were immense, and since that day 
the years have only added to the strength and 
fervor of the parish organization. The pastor 
found it necessary to employ a social worker at 
once to systematize the activities of the Sodal- 
ists and soon added another paid employee to 
arrange entertainments and promote sociabil- 
ity. Both of these were trained workers and 
received competent salaries. 

ANOTHER INSTANCE 

As a second instance, we may take the case 
of a parish in a smaller town. Here a talk was 
given at the Sunday Mass as indicated in the 
above paragraphs, and the call was issued to 
all the zealous members of the congregation to 
assemble at eight o'clock that Sunday evening, 
in the hall in the basement of the church. In 
conversation with the pastor concerning the op- 
portunity for Sodality work, the question was 
asked about the possibility of catechetical in- 
struction. 

"All our children are well taken care of in 
the parish school," said the pastor. 

*'But are there any colonies of Italians or 
Poles in the neighborhood whose children are 
not getting instructions?" 

There were a number of them; one twelve 



58 Social Organization in Parishes 

miles away, another eight, another six, etc., each 
colony grouped around the mines where the 
older folk worked. Both children and grown 
up persons were out of all contact with Catholic 
influences. At the organization meeting a 
more detailed explanation of the Sodahty, its 
purpose and work, preceded the actual organi- 
zation. Then the men and women present 
were asked to group themselves in the four 
corners of the hall, the right front, left front, 
right rear, and left rear being indicated for 
young women, married women, young men and 
married men respectively. Sections were then 
proposed, — ^the Self -Denial Section for the 
missions; Catholic Literature Section, to ob- 
tain subscriptions to Catholic magazines and 
circulate books; the Membership and Sociabil- 
ity Section, to look out for newcomers and in- 
troduce them to the life of the parish, and the 
Catechetical Section, to make an effort to cate- 
chize and educate the Italian children. These 
sections were formed in each of the four di- 
visions, a president and secretary chosen, and 
the respective sections were then asked to re- 
group themselves in committees. The four 
committees, each containing a section from 
every Sodality, young men, young women, etc., 
now occupied the four corners of the hall. A 



Organizing the Parish 59 

general chairman, secretary, and treasurer were 
then chosen for each committee, and a date ap- 
pointed for the next meeting. A brief and sep- 
arate talk was then given to each committee 
concerning the special work in hand. The 
mission committee was instructed to practice 
acts of self-denial, and to encourage them on 
the part of others, setting up a box in the 
church to receive these offerings and forward- 
ing them to THE queen's work for the Self- 
Denial Fund. The Catholic literature com- 
mittee was to take up first of all the formation 
of a Sodality library. This Sodality library 
was to be a circulating library, open to all. 
The membership and sociability sections di- 
vided the parish between them and watched out 
for newcomers, inquiring whether they were 
Catholic, and if so, introducing them to Cath- 
olic activities and giving their names and ad- 
dresses to the pastor. For the catechetical sec- 
tion, volunteers were asked for who would give 
the use of their touring cars on Sunday after- 
noons to carry the catechists to the various col- 
onies of Catholic mine workers before referred 
to. Volunteers were then called for, to man 
these touring cars, and it was arranged that on 
the following Sunday expeditions should go 
out to the colonies of Catholics to round up the 



60 Social Organization in Parishes 

children and enlist them in catechetical classes. 
So a means was found of reaching these entirety 
neglected and very needy children. At the 
meetings of the Sodality, reports were to be 
had from each of the committees, new volun- 
teers were to be called for when needed, and in 
this way general interest was stirred up in the 
work at hand. 

MODIFYING THE PROCEDURE 

These methods of procedure are typical, but 
they can be very much modified. Thus in an- 
other instance, a triduum of instructions was 
given, especially bearing on the aims and pur- 
poses of the Sodality. During the last exer- 
cise, those who wished to become Sodalists were 
invited to separate themselves into divisions in 
the four corners of the church as above de- 
scribed. Cards were then distributed bearing a 
space for the name and address, the division to 
which they were to belong and the special work 
each wished to undertake. These cards were 
filled in and collected, and the work of organi- 
zation was postponed to a subsequent evening, 
when the sections were formed, officers elected, 
and the full work of the Sodality systematized. 
Suggestions of varied methods will readily oc- 
cur as the work proceeds. Sometimes it is well 



Organizing the Parish 61 

to announce a social feature, to induce better 
attendance at these first meetings. 

From these suggestions it will be clear, that 
the circumstances and conditions in the parish 
must greatly guide one in determining the plan 
of organization to be adopted. The general 
outlines as given above are very easy of appre- 
hension, and it only remains for those who do 
the work to modify this flexible plan to suit 
local conditions, taking counsel of the pastor 
and the active workers in the parish, and trying 
to arrange things so that there will be the great- 
est degree of success with the least expenditure 
of time and energy on the part of prospective 
Sodalists. 

Tediousness, a lack of promptness, indefi- 
niteness, and vagueness in the proceedings, 
should be avoided so far as possible, and this 
can be done by having a definite plan before- 
hand, settling upon details systematically 
ahead of time, and instructing those who are to 
take an active part in the organization as to 
precisely in what their particular work will con- 
sist. Thus, the points of determining before- 
hand who will be the best officers and leaders in 
the work, and of selecting certain practical and 
definite activities to be suggested, are of ex- 
treme importance. On the other hand, it is not 



62 Social Organization in Parishes 

always possible to arrange everything down to 
the last detail, as the inspiration of the moment 
must guide somewhat in suiting arrangements 
to conditions as they arise. 

Where practical, a brief social session may 
be held immediately after the meeting, in which 
those of the Sodalists who are not acquainted 
should be introduced to one another and to the 
Director if necessary, and may begin to prac- 
tice that cordial friendliness which is the spirit 
of the Sodality, the sisterhood or brotherhood 
of Our Lady. 

REVIVING THE SODALITY SPIRIT 

Not infrequently the Sodality already exists 
in the parish in a moribund condition, and it is 
desired to revive it and bring it in line with the 
Sodality ideals. This situation can be reduced 
to the one where no Sodality exists at all, except 
that here it is all the more important to em- 
phasize the true Sodality idea, and to dwell 
strongly on the active, energetic, and social na- 
ture of the Sodality. It should be stressed 
that the Sodality is not a mere devotion nor an 
empty enrollment, but that it is a way of life, 
expressed in one's faithful practice of the rules, 
attendance at meetings and cooperation in good 
works. 



Organizing the Parish 63 

THE PROBLEM OF THE MEN 

It is often found in first organizing a Sodal- 
ity, that only a small group of men come for- 
ward for membership. This may be due to 
various reasons. Sometimes it is the impres- 
sion of the men that the Sodality is exclusively 
for women, and they do not wish to join a 
woman's organization. It takes some time to 
disillusion them, but this can be done by per- 
severing repetition of the invitation to the men 
to join, and the explanation that the Sodality 
is as much for men as for women, given un- 
wearyingly by the pastor or the Director of the 
Sodality. Another reason may be the mis- 
taken notion of the men, that since they already 
belong to the Holy Name Society they cannot 
be Sodalists. The distinction between the 
Holy Name Society and the Men's Sodality 
should be explained clearly. The Holy Name 
is for all men of the parish: the Sodality, for 
those who wish to lead a specially fervent life. 
Any man who wishes, can be a member of both 
societies. Joining the Sodality will not inter- 
fere in any way with one's duties as a member 
of the Holy Name, but will rather give the 
Holy Name member a greater fervor and make 
him an active promoter of that excellent so- 



64 Social Organization in Parishes 

ciety. Where a Holy Name Society exists in 
the parish, it is sometimes effective to form an 
inner circle of Sodalists in the Holy Name, tak- 
ing the most zealous and fervent of the Holy 
Name members and introducing them into the 
Sodality to form a nucleus of the Men's So- 
dality. 

THE FERVENT NUCLEUS 

Even where only a few men come forward to 
be members of the Men's Sodality, they should 
be formally organized and made to form the 
fervent nucleus of the society. If eight or ten 
fervent members are given the true Sodality 
spirit, they will gradually draw to their mem- 
bership others among their friends and ac- 
quaintances, and by persevering effort the 
Men's Sodality can be built up from this be- 
ginning. 

THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR 

In organizing the Sodality, as in the conduct 
of it, great powers rest, a^ we have said, with the 
Director. "The Officers of the Council," say 
the common rules. Article 4, Paragraph 22, 
"like the minor officers, hold their powers to the 
extent and under the conditions determined by 
the Director granting these powers, and they 
remain subject to his authority, individually 



Organizing the Parish 65 

and collectively, in the discharge of their du- 
ties." These powers are, however, given to the 
Director entirely for the benefit of the Sodality, 
and if he were to use them arbitrarily or insist 
too much upon his authority, he might easily 
antagonize the members and stifle that personal 
initiative on their part which is the soul of So- 
dality action. The Director should, therefore, 
make a great deal of the officers from the be- 
ginning, openly pay them respect in their office, 
and let it be seen from the start that they will 
have a large share of responsibility and initia- 
tive. On the other hand, he should make it 
clear that they will be held responsible for the 
success or failure of the work. Thus he will 
avoid the too common mistake of trying to do 
everything himself and carrying the whole bur- 
den, and will secure in the officers energetic, 
active workers, willing to give suggestions, at- 
tend to details, and see to the success of the 
work. 

THE SECOND MEETING 

At the first regular meeting of the Sodality, 
the Director should further explain the purpose 
of the organization, encourage the members to 
make themselves familiar with their duties, and 
urge them to be faithful in striving to observe 



66 Social Organization in Parishes 

the rules. Each member should be given a 
copy of the handbook and of the rules, and for 
some time the Director's conferences should be 
practical instructions and applications of the 
rules and suggestions contained in this hand- 
book. A suggested order of exercises for this 
first meeting is as follows: (1) A short 
prayer to the Holy Ghost. (2) Roll call by 
the secretary pro tem. (3) Brief address by 
the Director, announcing the officers if ap- 
pointed, or explaining the election about to take 
place. (4) Election of officers, if they have 
not been previously appointed. (5) Installa- 
tion of officers. The installation may be made 
very simple by having the secretary pro tem. 
read the names of the officers, when each will 
rise in turn and take a seat in a circle near the 
Director, in places previously prepared. It 
may be made more elaborate by giving to each 
officer separately the badge of office, reading 
the duties of the officer from the book of rules 
as he takes his place, and having each officer 
stand up in turn and declare: "I desire with 
the help of the Blessed Mother and with God's 
grace, faithfully to observe the duties and to 
bear the responsibilities imposed on me by this 
office." (6) An instruction by the Director, 
further explaining the iTiles of the Sodality 



Organizing the Parish 67 

and asking each member to read them carefully 
and strive to understand and practice the spirit 
which they inculcate. The meeting may then 
be brought to a close with a brief prayer or, if 
time permits, the rosary, the Little Office of the 
Blessed Virgin, or some other devotion in honor 
of Our Lady. 

THE CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICERS 

As soon after this first meeting as possible, 
there should be a consultation of the officers 
and the Director to decide on the details of the 
Sodality activities which have been undertaken. 
At this meeting, careful discussion and survey 
of the needs and opportunities for active work 
in the parish on the lines suggested, should pre- 
cede decisions on the details and plans. The 
secretary should prepare a brief abstract of the 
points discussed, and the officers should be 
asked to consider individually the conditions 
in the parish, and report on whatever seems to 
them to be especially in need of attention. At 
another meeting these points may be taken up 
and discussed in turn, until agreement is 
reached concerning the particular needs of the 
parish. A careful study of the suggestions 
contained in the chapters on sections will help 
to formulate and clarify ideas and plans. 



68 Social Organization in Parishes 

BEGINNING THE WORK 

Once the Sodality has been organized, every- 
thing will depend on the energy and zeal with 
which the actual work is begun and carried 
through. From the very start there should be 
method, system, and prudence at every step. 
The Director should study the rules and en- 
deavor to communicate the true spirit of them 
to the Sodalists. He should make his explana- 
tions practical and interesting. The rules with 
the subjects suggested by them, will afford 
ample matter for years of practical instruction. 
The Director should, however, vary his remarks 
and not harp on one string until his hearers 
grow weary. The conference of the Director, 
carefully prepared, full of life and fervor, and 
directed to the special needs of the Sodalists, 
is the life of the Sodality meeting. It alone, 
well planned and delivered, will make it worth 
while for the Sodalists to go to great trouble to 
attend the meetings faithfully. On the other 
hand, if the instruction is haphazard, ill thought 
out or not thought out at all, and given in a 
dull, uninteresting way, this wearisome detail 
will kill the whole meeting, and the Sodalists 
will be observed gradually to cease coming. 
In these instructions the Dkector communi- 



Organizing the Parish 69 

cates his own interest and esteem of the Sodal- 
ity and its work to the members, and it is there- 
fore well worth while for him to give a great 
deal of attention to his preparation and to put 
into each Sodality conference all the life, earn- 
estness, and fervor he can achieve. 

FURTHER MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGNS 

After the work of organization is success- 
fully completed, it will usually be found that 
there still remain some eligible parishioners who 
are not yet members of the Sodality. For this 
reason, a lively membership campaign should 
be carried on from time to time. One effective 
way is to choose out a band of Sodalists who 
are especially energetic and popular, and start 
them out on a personal campaign for member- 
ship to last one or two weeks. On the Sunday 
which begins the week, the pastor or director 
of the Sodality should speak at all the Masses, 
explain anew the purposes and advantages of 
the Sodality, emphasize the benefits of member- 
ship, and invite all members of the congrega- 
tion who feel that they can and will strive to 
observe the Sodality rules, to join the Sodal- 
ity. The membership committee will then dis- 
trict the parish, and each one take a certain 
number of families to visit. In each house- 



70 Social Organization in Parishes 

hold they will try to enroll all eligible members 
of the family as candidates for the division of 
the Sodality for which each is fitted. A care- 
ful record should be kept of the families visited 
and each new applicant for admission should 
be required to sign a regular application blank 
stating his or her willingness and desire to join 
the Sodality. 

When a large additional membership is ob- 
tained in this way, special instructors of candi- 
dates should be appointed, to inform these new- 
comers of their duties and privileges. The new 
members should be made to feel both the spirit- 
ual and material advantages of membership. 
Special social sessions and entertainments may 
be held to introduce them to the Sodalists. 
These activities should be conducted by the So- 
dalists themselves. It will be found useful in 
many cases to appoint one of the old members 
as a guardian for each of the new members, to 
take a special interest in the new Sodalist until 
he or she has become accustomed to the Sodal- 
ity activities and familiar with its rules and 
principles. These persons should be chosen 
from the same division of the Sodality which 
the candidate is to enter. It sometimes helps 
the interest of this campaign to start out for 
some definite membership, such as one hundred 



Organizing the Parisu 71 

new candidates in a week, one hundred and 
fifty new candidates in two weeks, etc., etc. 
Note, however, that these apphcants are to be 
admitted only as candidates, and made to prove 
their fitness and fidehty before admission to 
full membership. 

THE MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN BY MAIL 

In country places, or where the Catholic pop- 
ulation is scattered, organizing may be done by 
mail. A series of letters should be prepared, 
a mailing list got ready with the name and ad- 
dress of each eligible parishioner, and the letters 
should be sent out at intervals of about four 
days or a week, each containing a new invitation 
to affiliate with the Sodality, and presenting 
fresh and strong reasons for aggregating one's 
self thereto. Those parishioners who do not 
reply to the letter may be approached by per- 
sonal interview. The possibilities of success 
in the personal appeals are heightened by the 
previous appeal through the mails. 

MEMBERSHIP CONTESTS 

Another method of increasing membership 
is to ask every Sodalist to bring at least one 
candidate for the Sodality. In the Sodalities 
of young people it helps to offer a certain pre- 



72 Social Organization in Parishes 

mium for every new member brought in. 
Sometimes it is useful to institute a membership 
contest, the winner being the one who brings in 
the greatest number of candidates to the So- 
dality. Since perseverance is an essential vir- 
tue of the Sodalist, this contest may be made to 
turn not only on the number of applicants but 
on the number who persevere, say for one year, 
as faithful members of the Sodality. Two 
prizes may be offered, one for the greatest num- 
ber of applicants, the other for the greatest 
number who persevere, the latter to be awarded 
at the end of a year. Variations and additional 
details will readily occur in the course of carry- 
ing out these suggestions. It should be 
strongly emphasized that these various means 
of getting new members should not be allowed 
to degenerate into a mere scramble for names, 
but it should be the conscientious care of every 
one who brings in a new candidate to make sure 
that he or she is really in earnest in the wish to 
become a Sodalist, and honestly resolves to 
obey the rules and to do the work of the So- 
dality. The prizes offered should, therefore, 
not be very valuable but merely honorary 
awards, and they should be used rather as a 
means to excite interest and afford incentive, 
than as a motive for getting new members. 



Organizing the Parish 73 

Still another way of conducting a member- 
ship campaign is by having committees at the 
church doors. Thus, in another typical in- 
stance in a large parish which embraced, in- 
deed, the whole of a flourishing town, addresses 
were given at each of the Sunday Masses ex- 
plaining the Sodality and inviting all who 
wished to do so to join it. Organization was 
then carried on through a meeting in the even- 
ing at which those present were divided in the 
four corners of the hall, temporary officers ap- 
pointed, and works suggested. It was then 
announced by the pastor that on the next Sun- 
day morning there would be a committee at ev- 
ery door of the church, composed of one mem- 
ber from each of the Sodalities. These com- 
mittees were formed on the spot. There were 
four doors to the church, and so four members 
were chosen from each division, young men, 
young ladies, married men and married ladies, 
and assigned to a door of the church. They 
were to obtain help if they could not be present 
personally at all the Masses, and were to see to 
it that a representative from their division 
would be at the door assigned, with pencil and 
paper, ready to ask all who entered whether 
they wished to belong to the Sodality, and if so, 
to take down their name and address. This 



74 Social Organization in Parishes 

was done on the following Sunday and a great 
number of names and addresses secured. The 
applicants should be carefully instructed in the 
duties and responsibilities of Sodahsts and 
those who have given in their names merely out 
of a wish to oblige or to save trouble, should be 
carefully weeded out before the candidates are 
admitted into membership of the Sodality. A 
very easy way of doing this is to keep a careful 
record of their attendance at meetings and their 
participation in the work of the Sodality, and 
if they show an inclination to absent themselves 
or are not regular and faithful, they should be 
warned and then eliminated. 

A TIME OF PROBATION 

It is an advantage to allow three or four 
months to elapse, during which all the appli- 
cants for membership are continued as candi- 
dates to let them know that their fidelitv and 
regularity will be taken as an indication of their 
worthiness to become full members. In this 
way the shallow and insincere, or those who 
have not sufficient self-sacrifice to persevere, 
may be eliminated before the candidates are re- 
ceived as members, and this will strengthen the 
Sodality organization, this loss in numbers be- 
ing offset by the caliber of those accepted. 



Organizing the Parish 75 

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS 

While the four sections for Catholic litera- 
ture, Catholic missions, catechetical work, and 
sociability, will be found almost universally de- 
sirable, additional sections may be begun at 
once where circumstances promise success. 
The work for these sections may be chosen 
from the copious suggestions given in other 
chapters. Thus, a membership committee to 
conduct a membership campaign, a ways and 
means committee to provide the necessary 
funds, a library committee to organize a So- 
dality library, will suggest themselves as timely 
sections. These committees need consist in the 
beginning only of a few members. They may 
afterwards by the accession of new members 
be developed into regular sections. 

THE PATRONS OF THE SECTIONS 

It is a beautiful custom prevalent in some 
Sodalities to choose a special patron for each 
section of the Sodality. The patron saint 
chosen should serve as a model and example to 
Sodalists. Thus for the mission section one 
may choose St. Francis Xavier; for the litera- 
ture section, St. Francis de Sales; for the sec- 
tion for the care of the sick, St. John of God or 



76 Social Organization in Parishes 

St. Camillus of Lellis ; for the poor-aid section, 
St. Vincent de Paul, etc., etc. 

TRAINING THE NEW MEMBERS 

Very especial attention should at once be 
given to the new members. The instructor of 
candidates, aided by the consultor of each band, 
should teach the members everything requisite 
for fervor and perseverance in the Sodality. 
The rules should be explained one by one, 
dwelling particularly on those which speak of 
the privileges and duties of Sodalists, such as 
rule 1, rules 3 to 14, rules 32 to 47 and 66 to 
68. The other rules should be thoroughly ex- 
plained, but it is not necessary to dwell so long 
upon them as upon those mentioned, which ap- 
ply more directly to the conduct of the indi- 
vidual Sodalist. The special practices, cus- 
toms, and good works of the individual Sodal- 
ity should likewise be thoroughly explained. 
Something should be told the new members of 
the history of the Sodality, its traditions, in- 
dulgences, privileges, and of the great names of 
holy memory, including even a number of 
Saints of God, to be found on the rolls of the 
Sodality since its institution, three and a half 
centuries ago. Material will be found in the 
Sodality Manual. 



Organizing the Parish 77 

BEADING THE MANUAL 

Each member should have a manual, and the 
explanations of the instructor of candidates 
should be given as a running commentary on 
the various divisions of the manual, all reading 
a paragraph together and then listening to a 
more extended talk on the same idea and ask- 
ing questions if any occur to them. The di- 
rector will, of course, help in these explana- 
tions, but the one named as the instructor of 
candidates should be prepared to carry on this 
reading of the manual and explanation of its 
contents. This careful instruction of the mem- 
bers is of extreme importance, both for fervor 
and for perseverance. It should be attended 
to at the very beginning. For want of such 
careful instruction when they first enter as can- 
didates, many Sodalists never become ac- 
quainted with the real nature of the Sodality, 
never appreciate the Sodahty privileges, nor 
learn what fervor and apostolic zeal the 
Church expects of them as Sodalists. 

MAKING THEM WELCOME 

It is of equal importance to make the candi- 
dates feel from the very beginning the personal 
advantages of becoming a member of the So- 



78 Social Or^ganization in Parishes 

dality. They should experience at once the 
atmosphere of cordiality, interest, and good 
fellowship which must characterize Sodal- 
ist assemblies outside the religious exercises, 
where, of course, there is little opportunity for 
sociability. These religious exercises should, 
however, be made from the very start as at- 
tractive, interesting and inspiring as possible. 
They should begin precisely on time, and not 
be too long. At their conclusion the Sodalists 
should adjourn to a hall or meeting room for 
a friendly social gathering, so as to become ac- 
quainted with and interested in one another* 

SOCIAL AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL 

The twofold character of the Sodality as an 
intensely fervent religious society devoted to 
the honor of the Blessed Virgin, and as a true 
brotherhood or sisterhood of the Sodalists 
among themselves, should be clearly and prac- 
tically in evidence to the new members from the 
beginning. The fervor, interest, exactness, 
and excellence of the religious exercises, and 
the zeal and efficacy of the works of the Sodal- 
ity will give proof of the former. The charac- 
ter of the Sodality as a society of true charity 
and mutual kindness, must appear from the 
conduct and spirit of the Sodalists themselves. 



Organizing the Parish 79 

It is atrocious to see among the members of the 
Sodality, jealousies, cliques, personal animosi- 
ties, factions, undue ambition, or any other 
such disgraceful selfishness. But the absence 
of these things is not enough to satisfy the true 
Sodality spirit. The members must show an 
active charity according to rule 45, which de- 
clares, "They should deal with one another with 
brotherly love and Christian charity." The 
candidates should, of course, be taught by word 
the meaning of this rule. But actions speak 
much louder than words, and the best instruc- 
tion in the true spirit of the Sodality is to ex- 
perience at once on all sides that warmth of un- 
selfish charity which will both give them to un- 
derstand what is expected of themselves, and 
will make them eager to qualify and persevere 
in a society where they find so much genuine 
kindness and goodness. 

THE OLD MEMBERS 

When a new band of candidates is received, 
the old Sodalists should feel a personal respon- 
sibility for their cordial reception and general 
edification. Where a Sodality is just being 
reorganized it is well for all, even those who 
have long been members, to assist at the instruc- 
tions on the manual, so as better to understand 



80 Social Organization in Parishes 

the rules and spirit of their Sodality. In such 
a case, of course, since there is no one qualified 
as yet to be instructor of candidates, the di- 
rector will have to give the instructions which 
he in turn may prepare by careful consideration 
of the manual, and the reading of the book 
called Children of Mary, which contains a 
series of talks on the rules and spirit of the 
Sodality, and may be had from the queen's 
WORK, St. Louis, Mo. In the meanwhile, an 
instructor of candidates should be appointed 
and prepared to carry on the work, so that 
when the next class of candidates is admitted, 
he or she may assist in instructing them. 

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES 

While the Sodality is essentially a religious 
organization, it is wonderfully adapted to 
serve as well the purpose of creating a kindly 
fellowship and friendly sociability among its 
members. One sees to-day the popularity and 
success of various benevolent organizations 
whose appeal lies chiefly in the opportunities 
they offer their members to come together in a 
social way, and to give help to one another in 
certain times of sickness or distress. This 
same function in a Catholic parish can readily 
be exercised by the Sodality. It is well worth 



Organizing the Parish 81 

while from every standpoint to emphasize and 
develop this phase of Sodality work, particu- 
larly at the present time, when so many Cath- 
olic people are being drawn into the ranks of 
secular organizations, precisely because they 
crave for that friendliness and cooperation 
which the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin is so 
well able to afford them. 



officers' meetings 



Before each regular meeting of the Sodality 
and before extraordinary meetings when they 
are called, it is well always to hold a meeting of 
all the officers, both major and minor officers as 
well as the consultors. At this meeting, ques- 
tions may be taken up relating to the spiritual 
and material activities of the Sodahty, the ad- 
vice and suggestions of all may be asked by the 
prefect or director, and a thorough understand- 
ing should be arrived at concerning what pre- 
cisely is to be done at the next meeting. At 
this officers' meeting, the reports of the secre- 
taries of the various sections may be received 
and inspected so as to be ready for reading to 
the Sodalists at the following general meet- 
ing. Any subject or detail which has to do 
with the interest or work of the Sodality may 
be brought forward by any one present. Free 



82 Social Organization in Parishes 

and frank discussion and suggestions should 
be encouraged from all. The purpose should 
be to plan everything for the coming meeting 
and for the work of the ensuing period, and to 
arrive at the best possible decisions on matters 
of Sodalitv interest. 

THE REGULAR MEETING 

Every pain should be taken and every effort 
made, so as to ensure that the regular meeting 
may be as interesting, attractive, and person- 
ally profitable to each Sodalist as possible. 
For this it is essential, as we have said before, 
to prepare carefully and foresee as exactly as 
possible all that is to be done. Monotony 
should be avoided by varying the program. 
Though the rules at paragraph 6 give the reg- 
ular exercises, still it is not supposed that these 
will be carried on with a wearisome sameness. 
The wording of the rule is, "the regular ex- 
ercises of these meetings are usually as fol- 
lows." Then are enumerated: the hymn to the 
Holy Ghost, the reading of some pious book 
while the Sodalist s are assembling, the an- 
nouncement of the coming feasts of saints and 
church events, the singing of Matins or Ves- 
pers of the Little Office of Our Lady, a con- 
ference by the Father Director, and the cus- 



Organizing the Parish 83 

tomary prayers adopted by the Sodality in 
question. But these exercises may be varied 
from time to time, while others can readity be 
added. It is to be noted too (and this will 
answer a very common difficulty of directors 
and Sodalists), that the Little Office of the 
Blessed Virgin so frequently used by Sodalists 
and which consists of hymns and prayers, is not 
even mentioned in the rules, and hence its use is 
not in any w^ay obligatory. The Little Office 
mentioned in the rules, paragraph 6, is the 
translation of the Little Office of the Breviary. 
Hence, with good reason, the recitation of the 
Little Office of the Blessed Virgin may be ex- 
changed for some other devotion in honor of 
the Blessed Virgin. 

SEATING THE BANDS ^ 

It has been found very useful to assign a 
definite seat to each Sodalist. This may be 
done by allotting two or more pews to every 
band and having the consultor in charge of 
that band sit in the first seat of the front pew. 
If necessary, little banners or cards may be 
put on the front pew of each section to indicate 
to what band that section is allotted. It some- 
times adds to the interest to give each band a 
patron saint whose name, which may be put 



84 Social Organization in Parishes 

on the banner of the band, will designate it and 
mark out its position from the rest. This ar- 
rangement of fixed seats makes it very much 
more easy to secure the names of absentees. 
When the meeting begins, each consultor 
should glance over the places allotted to his or 
her band and note who is absent. The names 
should then be written on cards provided for 
that purpose and handed to the secretary. The 
consultor should make it a point in the course 
of the following week to call upon the absentees 
for a reason or excuse. If any one absents 
himself from three meetings in succession with- 
out a valid excuse it is well to suspend him by 
way of warning, and if no promise of amend- 
ment is given, to expel him from the Sodality. 

REPORTS OF SECTIONS 

After the regular religious exercises of the 
Sodality, the reports of all the sections should 
be read by their respective secretaries. These 
reports should summarize briefly, the work 
which has been done since the last meeting, 
mention what is to be undertaken, and call for 
volunteers or new members for the section if 
these are necessary. The reading of these re- 
ports is very important, since it acquaints all 
the Sodalists with everything that is being 



Organizing the Parish 85 

done, and besides it stirs up interest and co- 
operation, giving every one an opportunity to 
discover just where their aid v^ill be appreci- 
ated. The report of the secretary of the So- 
dality should also be read, and all these re- 
ports should be preserved as part of the Sodal- 
ity history. 

VARYING THE MEETING 

Keeping to the general outlines of the meet- 
ing as described in paragraph 6 of the rules, the 
director can vary each meeting by the intro- 
duction of some new feature of interest. If 
necessary, some part of the regular program 
may be omitted from time to time. The di- 
rector's instruction, however, ought never to be 
left out. This variety can be secured by re- 
citing at each meeting different prayers to the 
Blessed Virgin suitable to the particular sea- 
son. The Raccolta and other collections of 
prayers will supply abundant material. A 
special intention may be announced for the 
prayers of the Sodalists each month. This in- 
tention may be taken from the department 
"Union of Sodalists in Prayer" in the queen's 
WORK each month. Where the meeting is held 
in the hall, or where the Sodalists can adjourn 
to the hall after the spiritual exercises are over, 



86 Social Organization in Parishes 

one or several of the Sodalists can be appointed 
for each meeting to give a httle talk or to read 
a short paper. 

OTHER MEANS OF VARIETY 

The practice of having a Question Box into 
which any Sodalist can drop a query on any 
subject is also calculated to add interest to the 
meeting. The Question Box may be emptied 
just before the meeting and its contents given 
to the director who will answer the questions 
he wishes to take up at once, and can defer to 
the next meeting those which he wishes to think 
over or look up. A talk on current happen- 
ings which affect religious interests will also 
lend variety now and then. It also helps to 
interest to buy booklets and pamphlets at 
wholesale and give each Sodalist at every meet- 
ing a copy of the book purchased for that 
month. The director may then say a few 
words about the book to help the Sodalists to 
take interest in it or to appreciate it. One 
Sodality did this for an entire year and met the 
expense from the dues of the Sodality. From 
time to time the director may bring to the meet- 
ing some book in which he himself is especially 
interested, and read a few taking extracts from 
it. His interest will be contagious and the So- 



Organizing the Parish 87 

dalists will want to read the book. These lit- 
tle devices will suggest to the zealous director 
and officers still other ways of varying the 
meetings, and of making each one interesting 
for its own sake and profitable to the Sodal- 
ists. 



one's own method 



The director who makes a study of the fine 
art of keeping up the interest and zeal of his 
Sodalists must develop his own method of man- 
aging Sodality meetings and conducting ac- 
tivities. What succeeds in the hands of one 
will not prove effective for all. The personal 
equation enters largely into the work. Still 
the wise director will observe carefully the 
methods of others, profit by their good devices 
and even by their mistakes, and always be on 
the alert to get new ideas from others and to 
give them new ideas in exchange. This is one 
of the great benefits of a Sodality Union, that 
kindred spirits can meet at regular intervals 
and exchange experiences and ideas. Even if 
there were only two active and enthusiastic di- 
rectors of Sodalities in an entire city it would 
be worth while having a Union so that those 
two at least might talk over methods and ex- 
change ideas. 



88 Social Organization in Parishes 

THE FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS 

The rules declare at paragraph 5, "The So- 
dality of Our Lady should meet at least once 
a week. . . . Unless some special reason to the 
contrary exists, the regular meeting of the So- 
dahty should take place on Sunday, and it is 
even better that it take place on every holyday 
of obligation without exception." The rule 
goes on to say that meetings should not be 
omitted without very exceptional reasons, and 
should not be discontinued in summer unless 
the absence of the members or some other cause 
makes that time impossible. This is the ideal 
of the Sodality and should be lived up to so 
far as practicable. It stands to reason, how- 
ever, that where very strong reasons exist, an 
exception may be made to this rule. Thus 
where it is simply impossible to have a meeting 
every week and where once a month is the most 
that is practicable, obviously all that remains 
is to have the meeting once a month. The 
question is frequently asked: "If one has 
meetings only monthly does one lose the in- 
dulgences?" One loses the indulgences for 
those particular meetings which one does not 
have. Since the Sodality indulgences are at- 
tached to special good works, one does not gain 



Organizing the Parish 89 

the specific indulgences unless one performs the 
good work. But the frequency of the meetings 
does not affect the other indulgences gained by 
Sodalists. 

ADVANTAGES OF WEEKLY MEETINGS 

While it is not always easy, of course, in this 
crowded and distracted age to keep up attend- 
ance at weekly meetings, still there are very 
strong reasons for making particular efforts to 
have the meetings at least once a week. The 
Sodality is not only a society, it is a way of life. 
St. Francis de Sales, as we have said, called it 
a religious order for the laity. By a weekly 
meeting, fervent, interesting, inspiring, the 
zeal of the Sodalists can be maintained, and 
their personal devotion to the Blessed Mother, 
which must flower out in the threefold activity 
of personal holiness, the help of the neighbor 
and the spread and defense of the Faith, can 
be kept lively and strong. But a monthly 
meeting comes too seldom. The interval be- 
tween is too long. Besides, when the meeting 
is held each week at a definite time, say Sun- 
day evening, it becomes habitual with the So- 
dalists to put aside that hour of that day for 
their meeting. It is easy to remember, and 
habit makes it easy to attend. Whereas, when 



00 Social Organization in Parishes 

the meeting comes but once a month, it is so 
easy to forget just what Sunday is Sodality 
Sunday, or to make an engagement just for 
that evening on which one should go to the 
meeting. Then too, weekly meetings are a 
much better test of fervor and devotion, and 
by them much more honor and service is given 
to our Blessed Queen in heaven than by 
monthly meetings. An hour a week is, after 
all, not very much to offer to our Holy Mother. 
An hour a month is too trifling to test or to 
express the generosity of her favorite children. 

THE MEETINGS OF THE SECTIONS 

The sections need meet no of tener than is re- 
quired for the right management or progress of 
the particular work entrusted to them. Their 
meetings, unlike the general meetings of the 
Sodality, are of a utilitarian and practical 
character, and therefore need be held no of tener 
than the case requires. No particular order of 
procedure is necessary, the object of the meet- 
ing being to get through the business in hand 
as satisfactorily and as promptly as possible. 
The president of the section presides, the of- 
ficers make their report, plans are made and 
matured for further work, activities are as- 
signed to the various members, a program is 



Organizing the Parish 91 

agreed on to be carried out before the next 
meeting, and then the section adjourns. 
Where the character of the work permits, it is 
interesting and helpful after the officers' re- 
ports have been made, to get the active mem- 
bers to make individual reports, each one rising 
in his place to state what he has accomplished 
since the previous meeting. Informal discus- 
sion can take place on the work accomplished 
and still to be done, suggestions can be made by 
the officers or members, in a word, any feature 
can be introduced which will reasonably fur- 
ther the work of the section. The duration 
and frequency of the meetings should be 
adapted to the wishes of the majority, and the 
convenience and accommodation of the mem- 
bers should always be kept in view in all ar- 
rangements. Since this work is entirely vol- 
untary, every effort should be made to suit it to 
the inclinations of the workers. 

THE PROGRAM OF BUSINESS 

The officers of the section should agree be- 
forehand upon the order of business. Hap- 
hazard and impromptu meetings waste time 
and kill interest. The president should know 
beforehand just what is to be done and should 
make things move briskly from one item to 



92 Social Organization in Parishes 

another. Useless debates or disputes should 
be frowned down on from the beginning. The 
members should be made to feel that it has been 
worth their while to come to such a meeting, 
and that something worth doing has been ac- 
complished. What has been said about intro- 
ducing a pleasant variety into the general So- 
dality meetings, applies in part to the meetings 
of the sections. Their purpose, however, is 
utilitarian and so the proceedings must be 
shaped accordingly. From time to time it is 
well to bring in special speakers on the work 
in hand, and to get members of the sections to 
prepare set papers and talks. Outsiders may 
also attend the meetings of the sections, and at 
the president's discretion may be called on to 
speak and take part in the discussions. In the 
beginning it will probably be necessary to have 
the meetings more frequently so as to keep up 
interest and inform every one thoroughly about 
the work in hand. Afterwards the meetings 
should be held as need requires, but it should 
be insisted on that every one attend faithfully 
or present a valid excuse. 

THE CONVENIENT TIME 

Meetings of sections may sometimes be con- 
veniently held just before or just after the 



Organizing the Parish 93 

general meetings of the Sodality, thus saving 
the members an extra trip. Where the re- 
ports of the sections are read during the gen- 
eral meeting, each section may at once hold its 
special session when the general meeting is 
over, adjourning for that purpose to different 
rooms or to different parts of the Sodality hall. 
The director and general officers of the Sodal- 
ity may be invited to attend the section meet- 
ing where their advice and assistance are es- 
pecially needed. In case any section requires 
more time for the transaction of its business, 
it may fix a date for a special meeting to be held 
subsequently. 

SUB-COMMITTEES AND CIRCLES 

In the work of some sections it helps to di- 
vide the members into sub-committees, each one 
of which is given charge of some particular as- 
pect or department of the work. Instances of 
this method of organization will be found in the 
division which treats of the particular work of 
the sections. Another convenient form of or- 
ganization is to gather the members of the sec- 
tion into circles or neighborhood groups, each 
one of which can meet and work at the houses 
of its members in rotation. This has been very 
successfully done in the mission sections, whose 



94 Social Organization in Parishes 

members meet in mission circles to sew for the 
needs of the home and foreign missions. 
Wherever manual work is to be done by the 
section, these circles or neighborhood groups 
will assemble neighbors and acquaintances to- 
gether and spare them the need of taking long 
trips to get to their place of work. 

SOME DETAILS AND PRECAUTIONS 

Each of these circles should have its assigned 
leader who will be in charge of and responsible 
for its work. In case any other officers are 
necessary, such as secretary, treasurer and li- 
brarian, these may be added. One extremely 
important rule that should be made for all these 
sections is that conversation of a personal na- 
ture shall not be allowed while the members are 
at work together. The reason is that this sort 
of talk so easily degenerates into detraction, 
and it would be disedifying indeed if Sodalists 
who are working for the Blessed Mother should 
fall into personal gossip, worse still, into 
calumny or slander. It is a good plan at sew- 
ing circles, etc., to have the members take turns 
during part of the time in reading from some 
good and helpful book. If this book has a 
bearing on the work of the section, so much the 
better. 



Organizing the Parish 95 

PRAYEK, STUDY AND WORK 

An effort should be made to have the mem- 
bers of every section pray and study as well as 
work for the special object of the section's ac- 
tivity. Since the whole aim of the Sodality is 
supernatural in motive and purpose, it is of 
the greatest importance to obtain the help of 
God's grace, hence the need of earnest and 
persevering prayer. Prayer is, besides, the 
most effective help which the Sodalist can give 
to the cause to which he has consecrated his ef- 
forts. To pray for the missions, for instance, 
is as necessary as to work for them. One may 
say the same thing of catechetical instruction, 
the help of the poor and the sick, and so through 
all the good works of the sections. The per- 
sonal efforts and sacrifices of the Sodalists in 
performing their duty should also be offered 
up for the pure love of God in aid of the work 
of the section and for the true success of its 
activities. At every meeting suitable prayers 
should be recited for the same intention, and 
the members should be asked to offer up their 
JMasses and Holy Communions for their own 
work and that of their fellow members. This 
will foster the spiritual aims of the Sodality 
and will instil a greater love for it. 



96 Social Organization in Parishes 

ACQUIRING INFORMATION 

The members of the sections should also in- 
form themselves by such study as they find 
practicable, concerning the subjects which bear 
on their work, so as to do it as well as possible. 
Carefully prepared and well delivered talks or 
the reading of papers by the members previ- 
ously appointed, may take up a few minutes 
at every meeting. Good speakers may be 
brought in from time to time to address the 
members of the section. A better knowledge 
of methods and conditions is sure to excite 
greater interest and zeal in all, particularly in 
such sections as those in aid of Catholic litera- 
ture, of the missions, for social work, and so 
on. 

PRUNING THE DEAD WOOD 

Since the object of the sections is work, those 
who are unwilling or unable to do their part 
should be dropped from membership in the sec- 
tion. There must be no honorary members. 
The presence of dead wood in such an organiza- 
tion discourages the active members and gives 
them an excuse for failure. Nor must the 
wish to keep a large membership deter the 
officers of the section from dismissing the 



Organizing the Parish 97 

idle members. A good section is one which 
is full of good works and active zeal though its 
membership is very small. On the other hand, 
a section whose members are not all occupied 
with their own share of the work is a poor sec- 
tion, no matter how many nominal members it 
may have. The limit of membership in a sec- 
tion is the number of competent and willing 
workers in that department who can be found 
in the Sodality. If there are only three such 
< — then a section of three members will be a 
good section and more will be superfluous. 
The fallacy of numbers is always dangerous to 
an active organization, but it seems especially 
so in the case of supernatural work like that of 
the Sodality. 

OUTSmE COOPERATION 

The work of a section is, of course, not con- 
fined exclusively to its members. The section, 
like any other committee, is in charge of its 
field of work, but it is helpful and even neces- 
sary at times to enlist aid and cooperation from 
without. Thus some sections, like those for 
the missions and for Catholic literature, have 
as their direct purpose the enhsting of the help 
of others. In the case of almost every section 
it is expected that the other members of the 



98 Social Organization in Parishes 

Sodality will aid in the work. The office of 
the section is to supply organized management 
and a group of volunteers who can always be 
counted on for this special activity. In the 
case of some sections, as for instance, those in 
Sodalities for teachers, where the members 
have special training and are qualified to direct 
and instruct others in the work, it is well to 
employ the members of the section itself chiefly 
or entirely in training and directing other out- 
side volunteers. Thus a Catechetical Section 
in such a Sodality might occupy its members 
in training catechists and directing Catechism 
Centers; a Poor Aid Section in a Nurses' So- 
dality might use its members, when they are off 
duty, in instructing poor mothers in the care of 
their children, or in training volunteer teachers 
for the same work, etc., etc. 

OUTSIDE MEMBERSHIP 

Some works may be undertaken in such a 
way that they form in part a section of the So- 
dality, in part a quasi-independent body. This 
is done by enrolling all Sodalists who wish to 
partake in the work in a section, and then ad- 
mitting others who may not be Sodalists but 
who wish to engage in this particular activity. 
Obviously, this can be done only in certain 



Organizing the Parish 99 

special departments of work where there is no 
danger of conflict of authority, and where co- 
operation without friction between the Sodal- 
ists and the others can be assured. An excel- 
lent example of this is the crusade for honoring 
the Holy Eucharist called The Knights and 
Ladies of the Blessed Sacrament, explained in 
another place. Sections for the promotion of 
this crusade are formed in the Sodalities, and 
the members of this section not only enlist in 
the crusade themselves and pledge themselves 
to observe its conditions, but they also exert 
themselves to induce others, even non-Sodal- 
ists, to make the same good resolution and en- 
list in the same crusade. 

OUTSIDE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS 

Finally, it is obvious that attendance at the 
meetings of sections may be thrown open to 
others than the members whenever the interest 
of the work or the benefit of others recommends 
it. It is a very good plan, too, to invite to the 
meetings of the section the president and more 
active officers and members of the same or kin- 
dred sections in other parishes. They will 
both make good suggestions when called upon 
and learn themselves from what they see and 
hear. 



100 Social Organization in Parishes 

INDEFINITELY ADAPTABLE 

When once the simple outlines of the sec- 
tional plan of organization in the Sodalities be- 
come clear, it will be easy to see how indefinitely 
adaptable this idea is in meeting the most varied 
needs. The small country parish may form 
all its members into one Sodality, take up two 
or three appealing works through sections or- 
ganized for the purpose, divide the sections into 
neighborhood circles, and then have each circle 
carry on its work in its own part of the parish 
and report its accomplishment to swell the sum 
total at the next Sodality meeting. The large 
city parish, on the other hand, can organize a 
Sodality for each division of its membership, 
dividing according to age and sex so that there 
may be a Sodality for the boys, for the girls, 
for the young men, and young ladies respec- 
tively, from sixteen to twenty, for those from 
twent}^ onward, and Sodalities for the married 
men and married women, respectively. Each 
of these Sodalities may have its own sections 
for the various works deemed most appropriate 
for its members and most serviceable to the 
parish. Thus an endless modification of the 
Sodality plan is possible, while at the same time 
one keeps to the main outlines suggested above. 



Organizing the Parish 101 

THE EFFORT NEEDED 

No one will be so foolishly sanguine, let us 
repeat, as to expect that an organization such 
as we have described can be begun and kept up 
without decided effort, both on the part of the 
director and of the officers and members. Like 
every organization worth while, the Sodality 
requires attention and constant effort. All 
that is claimed for it is, that it abundantly re- 
pays whatever energy is put into it, and gives 
a return both in a natural and a supernatural 
way which makes it well worth while to expend 
the effort needed to make it a success. Neither 
must one expect too great results in the begin- 
ning. The simple truth is, that our Catholic 
people are unused to organization in the par- 
ishes and find it hard sometimes to accommo- 
date themselves to the new idea. Repeated ex- 
planations are necessary. The leaders have to 
be encouraged, reminded, and trained until they 
can take the initiative and bear the responsibil- 
ity. For want of realizing these conditions, 
and allowing for them, many promising begin- 
nings in Sodality organization have ended in 
failure. Yet these conditions are not the fault 
of the Sodality. They spring from causes 
rooted in the history of Catholic parishes, and 



102 Social Organization in Parishes 

must simply be taken into account in the course 
of any reasonable effort to bring about ad- 
equate and permanent parish organization. 

THE ESSENTIALS OF THE SODALITY 

The question is often asked : "What are the 
essentials of the Sodality?" This query may 
have several meanings. When it means, 
"What is absolutely required that a Sodality 
may come into existence and may be in a posi- 
tion to communicate to its members the in- 
dulgences and privileges of the Head Sodality 
at Rome?" the answer is, that for this it must be 
a society primarily devoted to the honor of the 
Blessed Virgin, must be erected by the Bishop 
and must receive affiliation from the General 
of the Society of Jesus, who is the head of the 
Roman Sodality. There must, besides, be a 
director appointed by the Bishop, and when a 
candidate applies for membership this director 
must give some sign of his intention to admit 
him. The names of the members should be 
inscribed on the roll of the society. These are 
the bare essentials, and if these are observed the 
members may gain the indulgences and priv- 
ileges, on condition that they perform the ac- 
tions to which these are attached. 



Organizing the Parish 103 

THE RULES 

But, though the bare essentials are few, it 
goes without saying, that these are not suffi- 
cient to constitute a good Sodality. The full 
and rounded ideal of Sodality organization and 
work may be found in its main outlines in the 
rules proposed in 1910 by the General of the 
Society of Jesus for observance by all Sodali- 
ties in Jesuit institutions, and made obligatory 
upon them, but earnestly recommended for 
adoption also by all Sodalities affiliated to the 
Head Sodality at Rome. A great number of 
American Sodalities have adopted these rules. 
On the printed form, commonly used in peti- 
tioning the Bishop for the erection of the So- 
dality, occur the words: "I humbly beg your 
Lordship ... to give your approval, for use 
by the above Sodality, of the Common Rules of 
1910." When the Bishop gives his consent to 
this petition, he likewise approves as requested, 
the Common Rules of 1910 for use by that So- 
dality, and these rules then become its standard 
and rule of action, which all the Sodalists 
should know and understand and to which 
they should try to conform their work and 
life. 



104 Social Organization in Parishes 

ADDITIONAL RULES 

To these Common Rules of 1910, others may 
be added and the approval of the Bishop ob- 
tained for them. Thus, if there are any special 
circumstances which require additional rules or 
demand a modification of some paragraphs in 
the rules of 1910, these additions and excep- 
tions or changes are to be mentioned in sub- 
mitting the Petition to the Ordinary, and with 
his approval they become the rules of the par- 
ticular Sodality in question. Generally speak- 
ing, however, it is advisable in beginning a So- 
dality to ask approval of the Common Rules 
of 1910, and if thereafter the occasion arises to 
modify or add to them, this may readily be 
done with the Bishop's approval. If there are 
substantial changes from the Rules of 1910, 
these changes must be mentioned in applying 
for aggregation to the Prima Primaria Sodal- 
ity. 

APPLYING FOR ERECTION AND AFFILIATION 

Practically, the method of erection and ag- 
gregation is very simple. Any one, whether 
priest or layman, may make the application. 
Write to the queen's work, enclosing a 
stamped, addressed envelope for reply, and 



Organizing the Parish 105 

ask for blanks for erection and aggregation, 
mentioning how many Sodalities are to be affil- 
iated. With the blanks will be sent simple in- 
structions for filling them out. The form is 
as follows: 

PETITION TO THE ORDINARY 

Your Lordship: 

Being desirous of promoting and spreading de- 
votion to the Blessed Virgin Mary^ I humbly 
beg Your Lordship: 

1 — To erect canonically a Sodality of (A) 
Young Ladies [Married Women — Working- 
men — etc., etc.] under the primary title of 
(B) The Immaculate Conception [Any mys- 
tery or Feast of the B. V. M.] and the sec- 
ondary title of (C) St. Agnes [Any Saint] in 

the (D) Church [Convent, etc.] of at 

(E) Chicago, 111. 

2 — To give your approval, for use by the above 
Sodality, of the "Common Rules of 1910"; 

3 — To name as its Directors Rev. (F) J. Smith, 
Pastor (Curate, Chaplain) of the above- 
named (G) Church, (Convent, etc.) and his 
Rev. successors, with power to subdelegate; 

4 — To recommend the Sodality to the Very Rev. 
Father General of the Society of Jesus for ag- 
gregation to the Prima Primaria Sodality of 
the Roman College; 

I have the honor to be 
Your Lordship's humble servant in Christ, 

(H) 

Placet EPISCOPUS 

(Signature of the Ordinary) 

Datum. . . . die mensis anni 19. . 



106 Social Organization in Parishes 

FILLING OUT THE PETITION 

In the division of this Petition marked (A) 
is to be written the class of the Sodality, that 
is, the class of persons who will compose it, 
as for example: Young Ladies, or Married 
Men, or Nurses, or Boys and Girls, etc. In 
the division marked (B) is to be written any 
mystery or feast of the Blessed Virgin ap- 
proved by the Church, as for example: The 
Immaculate Conception, or the Visitation, or 
Our Lady of the Way, or Our Lady of 
Lourdes, etc., etc. In the division marked 
(C) is to be written the name of the secondary 
patron, that is of a saint chosen to be the special 
patron of the Sodality. Any of the saints 
may be chosen as secondary patron, but it is 
well to select a saint whose name will arouse a 
special devotion in the members, as for example 
St. Agnes or St. Cecilia for young ladies, St. 
Ann for married women, St. Joseph for the 
men, or the name of the patron of the church, 
etc. It is best to have a different mystery of 
the Blessed Virgin and a different patron for 
each Sodality, so as to distinguish them and 
give them more individuality. In the division 
marked (D) is to be written the name of the 
church, chapel, convent or other pious place 



Organizing the Parish 107 

where the Sodality has its seat. The Sodality 
may be erected in any pious place, whether col- 
lege, school, institution, etc. In the space 
marked (E) is to be written the name of the 
city or locality, as New York, Chicago, Phila- 
delphia, etc. In the space marked (F) is to 
be written first the name of the priest who is 
to be director of the Sodality, and second, after 
the comma, his official title, as Pastor, or Cur- 
ate, or Chaplain. The mentioning of the title 
is necessary because the Petition goes on to 
ask that not only he but his successors may 
be appointed directors. Then, in the space 
marked (G) is to be written the character of 
the place where the Sodality is established, 
as Church, or Convent, or Hospital, etc. Fi- 
nally, the person presenting the application is 
to put his signature at the point marked (H) 
and the rest of the Petition is to be left blank 
for the signature, etc., of the Ordinary. 

SENDING IN THE PETITION 

When the Petition has come back from the 
Ordinary, duly approved with his signature, it 
should at once be forwarded with a request for 
a diploma, to the office of the queen's work, 
St. Louis, Mo., in case the locality is within the 
states of Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, 



108 Social Organization in Parishes 

Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming, 
Colorado, North or South Dakota, Ohio, Iowa, 
or Minnesota. If the locahty is outside these 
states, then look in the Catholic Directory for 
the address of the nearest Provincial of the 
Society of Jesus, and forward your application 
to him with the same request. A Petition will 
at once be sent to the General of the Society of 
Jesus, asking him to aggregate your Sodality 
to the Head Sodality at Rome and to com- 
municate to it the privileges and indulgences 
of that Sodality. A diploma will then be is- 
sued and sent you, setting forth the fact that 
your Sodality has been thus aggregated, and it 
is well to have this framed at once for preserva- 
tion and hung up in the meeting place of the 
Sodality or in the sacristy. In case several 
Sodalities are erected and aggregated, it is well 
to have a separate blank for each one and this 
is the reason why in writing to the queen's 
woEK to request blanks, one should mention 
how many Sodalities are to be erected. 

THE EFFECTS OF ERECTION 

The moment that the Bishop signs the Placet 
on the Petition which you have sent him, your 
Sodality is given canonical erection and exists 
from that instant. This act on the part of the 



Organizing the Parish 109 

Bishop may be compared to the act of incorpo- 
ration by which the state estabhshes a corpora- 
tion. The Sodahty then becomes, so to speak, 
a moral personahty, and can begin its work at 
once with full activity, though the indulgences 
and privileges will not accrue to the Sodalists 
until aggregation is effected. While waiting 
for this diploma, however, the director may pro- 
ceed to organize his Sodality, hold meetings 
and admit members. The Sodality exists and 
is subject to the jurisdiction of the Ordinary 
who established it. The affiliation of the So- 
dality to the Head Sodality at Rome does not 
withdraw it from the Bishop's jurisdiction. It 
remains subject to him and the aggregation 
merely confers upon it additional privileges 
and indulgences. 

THE EFFECTS OF AGGREGATION 

As has just been said, aggregation to the 
Roman Sodality imposes no new obligations 
nor dependence. It is simply a communica- 
tion of favors and advantages given by the 
Holy See to the Prima Primaria or Head So- 
dality at Rome with the power to share them 
with other Sodalities. The director is left 
quite at liberty to manage his Sodality as he 
thinks best without any interference from the 



110 Social Organization in Parishes 

Roman Sodality. Indeed he will never receive 
any communication or message whatever from 
the Head Sodality. Through the queen's 
WORK, which is the organ of the Sodalities of 
America, he will be kept in touch with Sodality 
doings here and throughout the world, and will 
benefit by the experience of others. Through 
the Sodality Unions he will cooperate with 
other Sodalities in his own locality. But all 
this will be voluntary, and the Head Sodality 
has neither power nor inclination to exercise 
any authority whatsoever over the Sodalities 
affiliated to it. Those who seek this affiliation 
are, of course, expected to try to live up to the 
general traditions and ideals of the Sodality 
as expressed in the rules, for this is implied in 
the act of seeking affiliation. But aggregation 
in itself means simply the conferring of favors 
and does not imply the exercise of any control 
whatever. 

SOME FURTHER DETAILS 

It is well to recall here that application for 
erection and affiliation or either, may be made 
at any time. As a rule, however, erection by 
the Ordinary is secured before aggregation 
is applied for. Thus, the Sodality may be 
erected and affiliated before any members what- 



Organizing the Parish 111 

ever have been obtained; or, some or all of the 
members may be enrolled before the Sodality 
is erected; or, the Sodality may be erected, the 
members obtained, and affiliation then applied 
for. As a matter of practice it is best to apply 
for erection and affihation as early as possible, 
since it requires a couple of months to be sure 
of receiving permission from Rome for the is- 
suance of a diploma. It is well to note also, 
that once the Sodality is erected and affiliated, 
it continues to exist even if all the members fall 
away, and continues also affiliated to the Head 
Sodality at Rome. If, however, so long a time 
has elapsed without any members that the So- 
dality has practically ceased to exist, then a 
new application must be made for erection and 
affiliation. In case of doubt whether a Sodal- 
ity has ever been properly erected and affiliated, 
as for instance, where no diploma can be found 
and it is uncertain whether one was ever re- 
ceived, application should be made at once for 
a new erection and affiliation. This will not 
involve any expense, and, on the other hand, it 
will secure for the Sodalists the indulgences 
and privileges which they rightly expect to re- 
ceive. The slight inconvenience required to 
make certain of this matter should not deter 
any one from taking such an important step. 



112 Social Organization in Parishes 

THE EXPENSES, ETC., OF AGGREGATION 

No fee is received nor can one be accepted 
for the privilege of aggregation. Where de- 
sired, however, a small offering not to exceed 
five dollars may be made to defray the expenses 
of postage, etc. There is practically no more 
expense or difficulty involved in erecting sev- 
eral Sodalities in a parish, than in erecting one. 
Hence as many Sodalities should be applied 
for as the requirements of the place suggest. 
One director may serve for several or all the 
Sodalities, or each one may be given a different 
director as circumstances dictate. The Sodal- 
ities may meet together or separately, may have 
the same or different officers, may conduct their 
activities in common or individually, may have 
the same place of meeting or different ones. 

THE DURATION OF ERECTION AND AGGREGATION 

Once validly obtained, erection and affiliation 
last forever. Even though the church where 
the Sodality is erected should be destroyed or 
rebuilt, the Sodality does not need a new erec- 
tion, provided the old church keeps the same 
title and is put up on the same spot. Even 
though a Sodality should cease its activities and 
lose its members, it still retains its existence and 



Organizing the Parish 113 

privileges. Still where these things occur a 
new diploma may be obtained, as a matter of 
precaution. 

AGGREGATION OF SOCIETIES ALREADY EXISTING 

Pastors and others, when they hear of the 
effectiveness of the Sodality plan, are often 
desirous to know whether they cannot change 
their existing societies into Sodalities, and have 
them erected and affiliated so that the members 
may do Sodality work and gain the benefits of 
Sodality indulgences and privileges. Pro- 
vided that those simple conditions are fulfilled 
which are mentioned in the paragraph, "The 
Essentials of the Sodality," existing societies 
may be changed to Sodalities and erected and 
affiliated just as though they had newly come 
into existence. The first requisite is, that the 
Blessed Virgin be taken as primary Patroness. 
This is very easily arranged, as she is the chief 
Patroness of most Catholic enterprises, and al- 
most any society established for a pious pur- 
pose may be devoted to her honor. If the so- 
ciety is already consecrated to one of the saints, 
that saint may be taken as the secondary pa- 
tron of the Sodality.. Whatever good works 
are already organized, may be continued pre- 
cisely as before, being now made sections of 



114 Social Organization in Parishes 

the Sodality and carried on in honor of the 
Blessed Mother, while new works may be taken 
up and organized at any time either through 
new sections or by confiding them to the care 
of existing sections. 

EEOEGANIZATION OF AN EXISTING SOCIETY 

The erection and affiliation of an existing so- 
ciety or group of societies as a Sodality, is ac- 
complished in the same manner as in the case 
of a new Sodality. The interior reorganiza- 
tion of a society to conform to the Sodality 
ideal should, so far as possible, proceed along 
the lines indicated in the Sodality rules for the 
conduct of a well-organized Sodality. Care 
should be taken that the members realize the 
meaning of the change and they should apply 
in some way for admission into the Sodality, 
and the director should indicate his will to re- 
ceive them by some outward sign. For the 
rest, the recommendations and suggestions 
made in this volume may for the most part be 
applied to the reorganization of an existing so- 
ciety as a Sodality, allowance being made for 
the differences of circumstances. 

WHEN A CHANGE IS ADVISABLE 

Societies which have a very marked and defi- 
nite reason for separate existence, especially 



Organizing the Parish 115 

those which are affiliated to national organiza- 
tions, are prospering in their work and have 
already an enthusiastic and devoted member- 
ship, may be left to carry on their activities as 
they are, assisted, as they will be, by the new 
spirit of zeal and fervor which the Sodalities 
will engender in the parish. But those so- 
cieties which have not these qualifications, which 
lack any reason for separate existence, had 
often much better be made a part of the So- 
dality or taken into its activities in the form of 
a section. 

A CASE IN POINT 

Thus in one parish when the work of or- 
ganizing Sodalities there was taken up, it was 
found by the organizer that there were in the 
parish the following societies, unattached to 
any national association and quite independent 
of each other : First, an Altar and Sanctuary 
Society; second, a Society for the purchase 
of the block of real estate surrounding the 
church; third, a Social Club; fourth, a society, 
unattached, for the aid of the missions. The 
members of each were ignorant of the doings of 
the others, there was no cooperation, and the 
pastor readily accepted the suggestion that 
these societies be made sections of the Sodality, 



116 Social Organization in Parishes 

and carry on the work under the especial 
patronage of the Blessed Virgin. The people 
also agreed, and when the Sodalities were or- 
ganized, these societies continued their activi- 
ties with the added benefit of the privileges and 
indulgences of SodaHsts. 

HELPING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 

It is very much in accord with the spirit of 
the Sodality and its traditions and practice to 
help in the work of other organizations by sup- 
plying volunteers, cooperating with their en- 
terprises and lending aid in any way that can 
be managed. In this way the true spirit of the 
Sodality is put in practice, the spirit, that is, of 
brotherly love and helpfulness which should be 
peculiarly characteristic of Sodalists of Our 
Lady. In most parishes where the Sodality 
exists, this spirit of readiness to help is much in 
evidence and the Sodalists are found to be the 
backbone of most good works. But by sys- 
tematizing this aid of other organizations, it 
will be much more effectual. Thus, there may 
be a section of promoters of the League of the 
Sacred Heart whose members will devote them- 
selves to the spread of this holy devotion. An- 
other section, in the Men's Sodality, msiy act as 
organizers and promoters of the Holy Name 



Organizing the Parish 117 

Society, making it their business to see that 
every man in the parish is affiliated to this ad- 
mirable society. Another section may act as 
auxiliaries of the Society of St. Vincent de 
Paul. Still another may undertake to pro- 
mote whatever mission society exists in the 
diocese and so on indefinitely, the Sodalists may 
offer themselves or be induced to come for- 
ward in aid of any good object or any praise- 
worthy society of the parish. 



CHAPTER II 

SODALITIES FOR SPECIAL 
CLASSES OF PERSONS 

THE NEED AND OPPORTUNITY 

PARAGRAPH 4 of the rules of 1910 
makes the following declaration: "The 
Sodality of Our Lady has been established for 
all the faithful. But its form of organization 
is best kept and its ends are most efficaciously 
reached, if separate Sodalities are established 
for separate classes of people differing in age, 
state or condition of life, so as to form Sodali- 
ties of boys, young men, mature men, students, 
working-men, etc." In his address to the So- 
dalists of Rome at the celebration of the for- 
tieth anniversary of his own admission into the 
Sodality, his Holiness Benedict XV empha- 
sized this tradition of the Sodality and declared 
that there now exist Sodalities for priests as 
well as for the laity, for professional persons 
as well as for the simple and poor, in fine, for 
all classes and for both sexes of the faithful. 
It is quite easy to see the need of these special 
societies. Different classes of persons have 

118 



Sodalities for Special Classes 119 

very different needs and requirements, they 
must be fortified against particular tempta- 
tions, instructed in their peculiar duties, en- 
couraged by wise direction and association with 
others of their own class to give eminent serv- 
ice to their neighbor, their country, and the 
Church. These desirable things can best be ac- 
complished through special Sodalities of the 
Blessed Virgin, organized along the general 
lines of Sodality methods, partaking of the 
privileges and indulgences of Sodalists, sharing 
in the benefits of membership in this world- 
wide institution with its forty thousand centers 
and its membership of some seven milhon, par- 
ticipating in the many prayers offered up 
throughout the world for the success of all So- 
dality work, yet organized to meet their precise 
needs and adequately to fill their very defined 
field. These special Sodalities therefore offer 
an extraordinary opportunity to meet the most 
advanced needs of the time, at the same time 
keeping close to the supernatural spirit and 
developing harmoniously the established tradi- 
tions of Catholic action. 

SODALITIES rOR PRIESTS 

Since the zealous director is the heart and 
soul of Sodality work and because he feels in 



120 Social Organization in Parishes 

his turn the need of the encouragement, infor- 
mation, and incentive which come from associa- 
tion, it is not surprising that Sodalities for 
priests have become very popular in some parts 
of the world. These Sodalities for priests have 
as their purpose not only to afford their mem- 
bers the common opportunities of a Sodality, 
its privileges and indulgences, its public honor 
of the Blessed Mother, the reminder of its reg- 
ular meetings and its organized good works, 
but they are also and specially meant to help 
their priest-members to improve in the fine art 
of Sodality direction. When even a few fer- 
vent directors of Sodalities come together for 
special prayers in honor of the Mother of God, 
and then hold an informal discussion concern- 
ing the work of their Sodalities, the mutual in- 
terchange of ideas and communication of fervor 
must go far to help them make their own So- 
dality more fervent and more flourishing. 
Those who wish to organize a priests' Sodality 
would do well to call a preliminary meeting of 
a few directors on whose interest and enthusi- 
asm they can count. The reason for priests' 
Sodalities as given above should then be gone 
over. Local conditions should be taken into 
account. If there is any danger of misunder- 
standing, the knowledge of the enterprise may 



Sodalities for Special Classes 121 

be kept for a time within the circle of its be- 
ginners, or, if any mention is to be made of it, 
another name may be used, such as the Priests' 
Society of the Blessed Virgin. It is not nec- 
essary to have many members nor even advis- 
able in the beginning. Three or four who are 
thoroughly interested and will come to the 
meetings and conferences are quite enough to 
start with. No new members should be re- 
ceived except those whose interest and perse- 
verance can be relied upon. In this way the 
work may be expected gradually to grow, par- 
ticularly if the first members are serious in 
their intentions and if no premature announce- 
ment is made of the formation or work of the 
Sodality. For the rest, many of the sugges- 
tions contained herein will be of help in or- 
ganizing this Sodality and in providing ma- 
terial for its discussions and conferences. An 
instruction should be given at every meeting 
and meetings should be held at the time most 
convenient for all. 

SODALITIES FOR PHYSICIANS 

There is a growing tendency to form guilds 
or groups of Catholic physicians for their 
spiritual and professional advantage. The 
idea is a timely one because the physician more 



122 Social Organization in Parishes 

than other men needs the inspiration of right 
principles and courageous goodness which can 
be given him through such a special society. 
The advantage of organizing these groups of 
physicians in the form of Sodalities is obvious 
enough. The groups of Catholic physicians 
will in this way be drawn into a national move- 
ment and partake in all the benefits which come 
from Sodality membership, while at the same 
time they may be given those special aids, re- 
minders, and instructions which their work re- 
quires. Among the particular activities for 
physicians' Sodalities are recommended: talks 
and Question Boxes on ethics and points of 
morals and of medical practice, the history of 
medicine from a Catholic standpoint, the dis- 
tribution of pamphlets on subjects with a spe- 
cial bearing on medical practice, lecture courses 
given by the physicians themselves, round- 
table talks on professional topics, free clinics 
for the poor where these do not already exist 
in sufficient abundance, a library for physicians, 
containing books on ethics, general science, his- 
tory and medicine. The members of the phy- 
sicians' Sodality may also be enlisted to give 
talks to the Nurses' Sodalities and to other or- 
ganizations, health talks to parish societies, 
talks to mothers on the health of the family and 



Sodalities for Special Classes 123 

the care of children, free advice and treatment 
to the poor, and similar good works. Circum- 
stances may sometimes suggest that instead of 
the word Sodality these organizations should be 
announced under their other title of Society of 
the Blessed Virgin so as to obviate the preju- 
dice and misunderstanding which too often at- 
tach to the word Sodality because of a misap- 
prehension of the real nature of this society. 
For the rest, the general suggestions made 
herein may be applied in great part to Sodali- 
ties for physicians. 

SODALITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS 

In some Catholic universities these Sodalities 
for the students of medicine have been found 
the very best means of attending to the spiritual 
interests of the students, and of safeguarding 
them during their professional studies. For 
the students who come from other cities and 
therefore must board about town, Mass is said 
at some convenient time on Sunday, and they 
are all encouraged to come to communion every 
Sunday if possible, confessions being heard be- 
fore Mass. With a little encouragement some 
of the Sodalists will develop a decided and ef- 
fective zeal in bringing back to the practice of 
their faith other Catholic students who have 



124 Social Organization in Parishes 

fallen away, and sometimes will even succeed 
in introducing them into the Sodality. Medi- 
cal students are very much burdened with work, 
and their chances for Sodality activities are 
therefore limited. Still it will be found that 
they can do something for the help of the mis- 
sions even though it be little, can distribute 
Catholic literature, and from time to time per- 
form some little act of personal charity in honor 
of the Blessed Virgin which will express their 
present devotion and be a preparation for 
greater things to come. When the students 
graduate they ought to be encouraged to keep 
up their connection with the Sodality, either by 
correspondence or by occasionally attending the 
meetings. If they have gotten thoroughly im- 
bued with the Sodality spirit and loyalty, they 
can be made apostles of the Sodality idea 
among the CathoHc physicians wherever they 
go to practice. 

SODALITIES FOR LAWYERS 

Though the legal profession does not involve 
so many moral difficulties nor such constant 
occasion for ethical decisions as that of the phy- 
sician, the pitfalls of the lawyer's career are 
numerous and serious enough to make it ex- 
pedient to provide for Catholic lawyers a So- 



Sodalities for Special Classes 125 

dality of their own, where the instructions, dis- 
cussions and conferences can be brought to bear 
on their professional needs and special require- 
ments. In these lawyers' Sodalities much the 
same procedure can be had as in the physicians', 
but the lecture courses, discussions, round- 
tables, etc., will turn on legal topics. Legal 
services may be given free to the poor, with 
business advice and directions about contracts, 
etc. Lectures may be interchanged between 
the lawyers' and physicians' Sodalities, with 
mutual advantage. What has been said of So- 
dalities in general may readily be applied to 
these Sodalities for lawyers. 

SODALITIES FOR LAW STUDENTS 

The Sodality has been very thoroughly 
tested likewise as a means of spiritual benefit 
and social incentive for students of law. In- 
deed all post-graduate Catholic students would 
benefit in a signal way by membership in a So- 
dality particularly conducted to meet their 
needs. What has been said of Sodalities for 
medical students will apply as well to Sodali- 
ties for those who are studying law. Those 
law students who are giving their whole time 
to the course are likely to have more leisure 
than the medical students. They can take up 



126 Social Organization in Parishes 

some additional work in lecture courses, read- 
ing circles, catechetical and mission work, etc., 
and in this way will be able to improve them- 
selves in speaking and at the same time help 
their neighbor and the Church, in honor of the 
Blessed Virgin. 

SODALITIES FOR TEACHERS 

In most of the large cities and in a number 
of smaller places a quite large proportion of the 
teachers in public schools are devout Catholic 
girls, many of whom would welcome any spe- 
cial aid they could obtain to lead a fervent and 
pious life. Some very successful Sodalities 
have been conducted for these teachers, offer- 
ing them the inspiration of a weekly meeting, 
sections for the performance of a variety of 
works of piety and zeal, a well conducted an- 
nual retreat, a choice and suitable library, and 
the advice of an experienced and interested di- 
rector. As in the case of the other special So- 
dalities, those who are contemplating the estab- 
lishment of a Sodality for teachers will do well 
to go over in detail the recommendations made 
in the chapter on sections and select those ac- 
tivities which seem most suited to the circum- 
stances of teachers. These may then be first 
got under way, and others may be added as oc- 



Sodalities for Special Classes 127 

casion allows or as a maturer consideration 
shows to be beneficial. 

SODALITIES FOR NURSES 

It is a perplexing question with the superi- 
ors of hospitals and superintendents of nurses 
how best to provide for the nurses in training, a 
spiritual apprenticeship in their noble calling 
which shall at least equal in efficiency the train- 
ing that they receive in the material side of the 
nurse's life. The great increase in the number 
of Nurses' Sodalities is good evidence that in 
these societies can be found the answer to this 
vexing problem. We have made a special ef- 
fort during the past few years to encourage the 
formation of these Sodalities, and where the 
work has been kept up with fidelity the results 
have been extremely gratifying. These Sodal- 
ities for Nurses are intended for the graduate 
nurses no less than for the pupils in training 
schools. They are meant to serve as schools of 
personal devotion, active zeal, and persever- 
ance. The members should therefore be im- 
pressed from the beginning with the truth, 
"Once a Sodalist always a Sodalist," and 
taught to look on their entrance into the So- 
dality as a lifelong consecration to the service 
of the Blessed Mother by personal goodness, 



128 Social Organization in Parishes 

the help of their neighbor, and the spread of 
the Faith in her honor. 

SOME DETAILS OF THE NURSES' SODALITY 

A membership card should be issued to each 
nurse when she graduates, or to each graduate 
when she is admitted to the Sodalit}^ and she 
should be asked to promise to write in at least 
four times a year to the secretary of the Sodal- 
ity to make a report of her work as a Sodalist 
and send in a signed Act of Consecration. 
Blanks and reminders for this purpose should 
be sent out by the secretary four times a year. 
On presentation of a membership card at any 
Sodality for Nurses, the newcomer should be 
welcomed and given the hospitality and all the 
privileges of the new Sodality. Every month 
about a week before the Sodality communion, 
the secretary of every Nurses' Sodality should 
send a postcard to each graduate nurse who is 
absent from the center, reminding her of the 
date of the Sodality's monthlj^ communion and 
asking her to receive communion on that day 
wherever she may be, or as soon before or after 
that date as possible. This will remind the 
graduates periodically of their duties as So- 
dalists and keep them united in spirit with the 
Sodality. 



Sodalities for Special Classes 129 

SOME SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES 

We venture to take from our "A Vade 
Mecum for Nurses and Social Workers" the 
following suggestions for sections in Nurses' 
Sodalities. Of course all these things are not 
to be taken up at once, but from time to time 
when they promise success : 

(1) A well-selected library, with reference 
works especially selected with a view to the 
needs of nurses, books for spiritual reading on 
Catholic apologetics and doctrine, some Cath- 
olic fiction, and books on the ethics and his- 
tory of nursing, etc. 

(2) Courses of lectures, by the Chaplain, 
the nurse-graduates, the doctors and the Sister 
in charge of the Sodality, on subjects connected 
with the nursing profession, its history, ethics, 
and practice. These may be open to all nurses, 
even non-Catholics. 

(3) Social meetings, which may take place 
in the nurses* home or other convenient place, 
and may include music, readings, etc. A chief 
feature, however, must be the opportunity 
given both student and graduate nurses to talk 
together, discuss mutual problems, and become 
better acquainted. 

(4s) A Mission Section, which may be called 



130 Social Organization in Parishes 

the Self -Denial Section, to encourage and sys- 
tematize the making of acts of self-denial in re- 
gard to unnecessary spending, and the sending 
of money thus saved to The Self -Denial Fund 
(care of the queen's work, St. Louis, Mo.), 
to be forwarded to the needy missions. 

(5) A Sewing Section which may make 
clothing for the poor, dresses for the children 
in the mission orphanages, vestments for 
churches, etc. The bits of old hnen to be had 
in hospitals make excellent material for the 
making of ablution towels, and even amices 
and purificators for poor churches. Old vest- 
ments may be made over, etc. 

(6) A Membership Section, to look up the 
Catholic nurses who are not already members 
of the Sodality and to get them to join, and to 
encourage faithful attendance at meetings and 
communions. 

(7) A Section for the Crusade of the 
Knights and Ladies of the Blessed Sacrament, 
to promote the crusade for frequent, at least 
weekly, communion and for the honor of the 
Holy Eucharist. Full details of this crusade 
will be found on the leaflets of the Knights and 
Ladies of the Blessed Sacrament (which may 
be procured from the office of the queen's 
WORK ) . 



Sodalities for Special Classes 131 

(8) A Benefit Fund, in case this is found to 
be needed. This fund is formed by small 
weekly or monthly contributions of the nurse 
Sodalists and each receives a fixed benefit on 
some specified occasion, such as marriage or the 
entrance into religion, sickness, etc. 

(9) A Loan Fund, which is likewise estab- 
lished by small monthly contributions, each 
Sodalist being given a receipt for the amount 
contributed. These sums are then loaned to 
the nurse Sodahsts to tide them over periods 
of need, a note being given by the borrower 
and the simi being repaid with interest when 
due. The fund will thus sustain and increase 
itself and, if carefully managed, may some- 
times be of great assistance both to the students 
and to the graduate nurses in tiding over a time 
of sickness or meeting some special demand on 
their purse. 

(10) A Catholic Book Section, which pur- 
chases for its members at wholesale prices se- 
lected Catholic books in portable and compact 
editions so that each Sodality may secure a 
serviceable traveling library for personal use 
and to lend or read to the sick. Publishers will 
give special rates if the books are bought in 
quantities. 

(11) An Employment Section, which will 



132 Social Organization in Parishes 

keep a list of available Catholic nurses and to 
which Catholics may apply to engage them. 

(12) A Section for Sociabihty and Friend- 
liness, which will get in touch with visiting So- 
dalists, invite non-members to meetings and ar- 
range for entertainments and get-together 
meetings for nurses. 

(13) A Poor Aid Section, to encourage the 
donation of money and old clothing to the poor, 
the giving of personal service to the sick poor 
when off duty, the instruction of poor mothers 
in the way of caring for their children, home 
hygiene, diet, cooking, home nursing, etc., etc. 

(14) A Section in Catholic Apologetics, to 
promote among its members the study of Cath- 
olic Apologetics, Church History, the answers 
to common difficulties about the Paith, the 
method of simple instruction in the Faith so 
that each graduate and student nurse may be 
trained and prepared to teach, to her patients 
who wish instruction and to other inquirers as 
well, the essentials of the Catholic religion. 

(15) A Section in the Ethics of Nursing, to 
study and discuss problems and principles con- 
nected with the duties of the nurse and the ex- 
periences which may come to her in the course 
of her service, the ethical aspects of the nurse's 
work, and similar topiics. 



Sodalities for Special Classes 133 

(16) A Section for Post-graduate Study, 
for the graduate nurses, to guide and encourage 
them in the systematic continuance of their pro- 
fessional studies and in the pursuit of profes- 
sional eminence. This may be done by courses 
of reading, conferences and the preparation of 
papers on professional subjects, etc. 

(17) A Section for Spiritual Reading, an- 
other for Daily Mass, one for a quarter hour of 
mental prayer daily, for weekly or monthly 
days of recollection, for having Masses said 
weekly for members of the Section, etc., etc. 

INTERCHANGE OF MEMBERS 

When these Sodalities exist in all Catholic 
hospitals they will form a national system, and 
the nurses by presenting their membership 
card may be affiliated to any Sodality for 
nurses in the place where they come to live. 
It is very desirable in this connection that all 
Sodalities for nurses be organized on similar 
lines, so that members who go from one to the 
other may know what to expect and what is 
expected of them. These Nurses' Sodalities 
may readily cooperate with other organizations. 
Where there exists a Guild for Catholic 
Nurses, the Sodality may be made an inner 
circle of the Guild, admitting to its member- 



134 Social Organization in Parishes 

ship only those members of the Guild who 
show a disposition to lead a devout life and to 
be faithful to the requirements of the Sodality. 
Besides the Sodalities in hospitals, city-wide 
Sodalities of graduate nurses have been estab- 
lished in some places. These Sodalities offer 
the Catholic graduate nurse opportunity for 
sociability and cooperation no less than for 
spiritual benefits. Other nurses as well as the 
members may be invited to the lectures, may 
use the library and attend the social meetings 
and conferences as guests. Full instructions 
for establishing these Sodalities, together with 
blanks for affiliation. Sodality supplies and 
books, etc., can be obtained from the office of 

THE queen's work. 

POINTS ON MEMBERSHIP 

In regard to all these special Sodalities, it is 
well to observe that even those who are already 
members of Sodalities in their parish, or who 
were admitted to Sodality membership while 
at school or college, may and should join the 
Sodality erected where they are now living and 
which has been established for the class to which 
they now belong. "Once a Sodalist always a 
Sodalist." Rule 30 of the edition of 1910 de- 
clares: "Sodalists once duly received into a 



Sodalities for Special Classes 135 

Sodality remain members of it always, unless 
they give it up of their own accord or are dis- 
missed as unworthy." But the rules also in- 
dicate that Sodalists who go to another place 
to live, should enter in their new home a Sodal- 
ity corresponding to their state of life. Thus 
rule 47 directs: "All Sodalists away for a 
year or more from the place of their Sodality 
and settling in a place from which they cannot 
attend its meetings, are obliged — in order to 
gain the indulgences — to enter, in their new 
home, a Sodality corresponding to their state 
of life, unless the director of such Sodality re- 
fuses them admission or there happens some 
other hindrance, of whose sufficiency the direc- 
tor of their former Sodality shall be judge." 
From this it is clear that those, for instance, 
who come to a training school for nurses, a 
school of law or medicine, where there is a So- 
dality should join that Sodality, expressly in- 
tended for themselves. It should be noted too, 
in answer to an often asked question that mar- 
riage does not change one's status as a member 
of a special Sodality, so that when, for instance, 
a member of a nurses' Sodality marries, she still 
remains a Sodalist. Obviously, too, married as 
well as single nurses may be admitted to the 
Sodality. Rule 29 declares, however: "Into 



136 Social Orgnnization in Parishes 

a Sodality of one class or state of life no one of 
another class or state of life can be admitted, 
unless the director for good reason judges 
otherwise." 

ALUMNI AND ALUMNAE SODALITIES 

It is a capital idea to keep the graduates of 
one's school or college together in an active and 
fervent Alumni or Alumnae Sodality. If the 
school Sodalities have been worthy of the name, 
they should have instilled into the boys and 
girls a lasting loyalty to the Sodality and made 
them realize the lifelong consecration which en- 
trance into a school Sodality means to Sodality 
work and ideals. If this training in the school 
Sodality has been rightly done it ought not to 
be hard to keep the graduates close to their 
Alma Mater in a Sodality specially for them- 
selves. These Alumni Sodalities ought to con- 
tinue the work and traditions of the school 
Sodality with such additions and expansions as 
the new opportunities of the graduates give 
scope for. Thus work for the missions, for the 
poor, for Catholic sociability, for catechetical 
instruction, for the spread of Catholic litera- 
ture, for reading and study circles, etc., can be 
entrusted to different sections of the Alumni 
or Alumnae Sodality. Where the organiza- 



Sodalities for Special Classes 137 

tion is powerful enough it may undertake some 
large work like the conducting of a summer 
home, or a Catholic center for working girls, 
a social settlement, etc. 

AN INTERMEDIATE SODALITY 

In many parishes a peculiar difficulty is ex- 
perienced in taking care of the boys and girls 
who have just graduated from the eighth grade 
of the parish school, and who are not yet old 
enough for membership in the young men's or 
young ladies' Sodality. The solution may be 
found in an intermediate Sodality which will 
take the youngsters when they graduate and 
keep them until they are old enough to go into 
the ranks of the "young men and young ladies." 
This Sodality may be called the Alumni or 
Alumnae Sodality of the parish school, or it 
may be given the name of a saint who is the 
especial patron of youth. A vast leakage oc- 
curs just at that critical age when the children 
come from the protection of the parish school. 
They have been kept safe and away from temp- 
tation until just now when their passions are 
waking. Then they are suddenly exposed to 
the allurements of the world and at the same 
time deprived of the protective influence of 
school. Their needs may be met and their in- 



138 Social Organization in Parishes 

experience safeguarded by a good Sodality for 
their especial selves. Otherwise they will think 
themselves too old to remain members of the 
school Sodality and the young men's and young 
ladies' Sodalities will consider them too young 
to join their ranks. So we shall have to regret 
in the. future as in the past the tens of thou- 
sands of Catholic children, precious fruit of our 
Catholic schools, concerning whom pastors and 
sisters must sorrowfully say: "They go out, 
and we lose track of them." 

SODALITIES IN THE PARISH SCHOOLS 

A considerable defect has often been pointed 
out in our otherwise admirable system of Cath- 
olic teaching. There is a want and a need of 
some means of training the children for the lay 
apostolate. Catholic pupils are so watched 
and tended, so carefully guarded and helped in 
so many ways, that unless something in the way 
of unselfish effort for their neighbor and the 
Church is early required of them, they will be- 
come self -centered and selfish and will gradu- 
ally come to think that all the works of the 
apostolate are for the sisters and the priests and 
that Catholic interests should be left entirely on 
their shoulders. School Sodalities if they are 
properly managed offer great chances for train- 



Sodalities for Special Classes 139 

ing the children in unselfishness and in the lay 
apostolate. Sections for the help of the mis- 
sions, through the Self -Denial Fund will in- 
duce the children to make little acts of self- 
conquest and give the savings to the missions. 
A Section for Catholic literature will train 
them to collect and redistribute Catholic pa- 
pers and magazines to individuals and institu- 
tions. The Catholic press hour, when, under 
the auspices of the Sodality, the students de- 
vote an hour each week to reading and com- 
menting on Catholic periodicals and recent 
books, will teach them an interest in Catholic 
publications. If this work is persevered in for 
the whole of the child's course and done under 
the standard of the Sodality, it must have a 
deep influence on the child's allegiance to the 
Sodality and will suggest and encourage the 
participation in its good works in after life. 

SOME DETAILS OF IMPORTANCE 

Membership in the school Sodality should 
not be made a matter of mere routine. The 
child should not be tumbled into the Sodality 
as a matter of course and left passively, with- 
out instruction as to the meaning of the So- 
dality and the requirements and advantages of 
membership therein. From the beginning the 



140 Social Organization in Parishes 

children should be put on trial, admitted at 
first only as candidates, and be required to 
make good as Sodalists and win their admis- 
sion to full membership, only after a thorough 
trial and by exemplary conduct. They should 
be impressed with the idea that the Sodality is 
a lifelong consecration, a crusade of fidelity 
and effort for personal holiness, the help of the 
neighbor and the defense and spread of the 
Faith. The rules should be explained to them 
over and over again. New schemes for activi- 
ties and good works ought to be introduced 
from time to time, to keep up their interest and 
enthusiasm. If any one objects that all this 
means too much effort and will interfere with 
other things, the answer is, that what we are 
aiming at, namely the training of the child for 
life in unselfish and persevering effort, is so 
precious a thing that no amount of trouble and 
effort would be too great to achieve it. 

ORGANIZING A PARISH SCHOOL SODALITY 

The following suggestions will prove help- 
ful to those who truly wish to have an active 
and well organized Sodality in their parish 
school. Let us emphasize again the sugges- 
tion, not to make the Sodality a mere school 
exercise into which every pupil is coaxed or 



Sodalities for Special Classes 141 

pushed, but a willing and personal service 
freely entered into, and where membership is 
a reward of merit and perseverance. It takes 
some trouble to get the children to realize the 
real meaning and purpose of a Sodality, per- 
sonal consecration which membership involves 
and the truth "Once a Sodalist always a Sodal- 
ist." Here then are the main points to be at- 
tended to in organizing a Sodality in a parish 
school : 

Establishment: Obtain a blank for affiliation 
from THE queen's work, St. Louis, Mo. 
Have it properly signed, and return it to the 
same address. When the Bishop signs this 
blank your Sodality is in existence. When 
a diploma is sent to you from the Head So- 
dality in Rome your Sodality is affiliated and 
has a right to the privileges and indulgences 
of the Head Sodality. 

Organisation: Begin to organize as soon as the 
blank is signed by the Bishop, or even before 
if you wish. 

(1) Explain to the children the nature and pur- 
pose of the Sodality. The Rules, espe- 
cially No. 1, and the book "Children of 
Mary" (to be had from the queen's 
WORK, price $1.00 postpaid), will afford 
material for instructions. 

(2) Call for volunteer members, explaining that 
this is a personal consecration to the Bles- 
sed Virgin, a crusade of free service in her 
honor, a lifelong devotion. 



142 Social Organization in Parishes 

(3) Fix the time of meetings, once a week if 
possible, at least once a month; the com- 
munion day once a month; secure medals, 
manuals or books' of rules, etc., from the 
office of THE queen's work; decide what 
office of the Blessed Virgin or prayers in 
her honor are to be said at the meetings. 
Suit all, so far as possible, to the greater 
practical convenience and edification of the 
Sodalists. 

(4) Decide what sections are to be established 
and what practical work they are to take 
up in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Sec- 
tions recommended for parish school So- 
dalities are: 

(a) Self-denial Mission Section to encour- 
age work for the missions, especially 
practicing acts of self-denial and giving 
the money thus saved to the missions. 
This money may be sent to the queen's 
WORK for the missions. Other mission 
work may also be done, such as gather- 
ing stamps and tinfoil, making dresses 
for mission children, sending tools, cloth- 
ing, seeds, food, Catholic books and pe- 
riodicals, etc., to missions. Addresses 
will be furnished by the queen's work. 

(b) Section of the Knights and Ladies of 
the Blessed Sacrament to promote the 
crusade for the honor of the Blessed Sac- 
rament. Details and instructions will be 
found on the special leaflet to be had in 
quantities from the queen's work. 

(c) Section for Catholic Literature, to ob- 
tain subscriptions to Catholic periodicals. 



Sodalities for Special Classes 143 

gather up and redistribute to institutions 
and Catholic families the books, maga- 
zines and papers obtained by the 
members from home and friends, etc., 
etc. 

(d) Good Reading Section, whose members 
pledge themselves to read each week or 
month a pious book, the life of a saint 
or other religious book. 

(e) Angel Guardian Section, each member 
of which promises to supply a poor child 
with clothing, books, etc. This is for 
children who have sufficient means. 

(f) Holy Name Section, to discourage all 
forms of bad talk and evil language. 

(g) Pastor's Aid Section, whose members 
offer themselves to the pastor to aid him! 
in any work he wishes done, such as run- 
ning errands, serving early or inconven- 
ient Masses, addressing or delivering cir- 
cular letters, etc. 

(h) Our Lady's Messengers, who take the 
side of the block on which they live and 
deliver to the members of the parish who 
live there the letters and circulars given 
them by the pastor. The president of 
the section sorts out the letters first. 

(i) Sections for any other special work 
which may be needed and practicable. 
(5) Each of these sections is to have its own 

president, secretary and any other officers 

required. It is well to make the assistant 

prefects and consultors officers of sections. 

(See the Rules for 1910 for the names and 

duties of Sodality officers.) 



144 Social Organization in Parishes 

(6) Each member of the Sodality should belong 
to at least one of the sections. 

(7) Cultivate initiative by letting the Sodalists 
themselves do as much work and carry as 
much initiative as they can. Cultivate in- 
terest by making much of the Sodality and 
showing that you expect much from the So- 
dalists. Cultivate unselfishness by letting 
the Sodalists all do something personally 
and self-sacrificingly for their neighbor and 
the Church. Even if the thing be small 
the lesson will be great. Cultivate devotion 
to the Blessed Mother by fervent, well- 
planned and well-conducted meetings and 
instructions, and by often reminding the 
Sodalists that all they do is for her. 

(8) If you wish any further information, sug- 
gestions or assistance in organizing and 
conducting your Sodality, write to the editor 
of THE queen's WORK, St. Louis, Mo. 
This address is sufficient for all purposes. 

(9) For Sodality literature, manuals, medals, 
leaflets, books and for the official organ of 
the Sodality, write to the queen's work, 
St. Louis, Mo. 



HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SODALITIES 

Nearly all Catholic institutions of learning 
of any consequence have Sodalities for their 
pupils. But particular attention is required, 
and a good deal of persistent effort, to bring 
these Sodalities to their due efficiency as a 
school of personal goodness and persevering 



Sodalities for Special Classes 145 

devotion, and a preparation for the activities 
of after life in the lay apostolate. Pastors 
often complain that the graduates of Catholic 
high schools and colleges who should be their 
best helpers in the work of the parish, are in 
fact less dependable and less active in good 
works than those who have received no special 
advantages. This is a serious charge, and so 
far as it is justified, may be traced to the woe- 
ful want of any particular training for the lay 
apostolate during those impressionable years 
while the Catholic young man or young woman 
is finishing his or her education at a Catholic 
high school or college. Here again, if it is 
worth while to supply this crying defect, it is 
worth while to work hard to organize and keep 
up a thoroughly good Sodality. Experience 
has shown that where the Sodality is organized 
in active sections for the performance of vari- 
ous good works, the pupils get a bent in' the 
direction of the lay apostolate which remains 
with them their whole life long. The deep im- 
pression which they receive of the excellence of 
the Sodality, the benefits it confers and the 
standard which is expected of them as Sodal- 
ists, will also remain for many years and may 
make them good members of the Sodality 
wherever they live and apostles of the Sodality 



146 Social Organization in Parishes 

spirit in whatever neighborhood they find them- 
selves. A low grade, listless, perfunctory, 
fossilized and worthless Sodality on the other 
hand gives them a wrong notion and so preju- 
dices them against the Sodality, that they will 
instinctively avoid it out of mere tedium and 
distaste, for the rest of their lives. 

ORGANIZING A SODALITY IN HIGH SCHOOL OR 

COLLEGE 

The most effective way of reorganizing a 
Sodality or of organizing a new one in a high 
school or college is by means of a three days' 
retreat, in the course of which the Sodality 
spirit is inculcated and the Sodality works ex- 
plained. At the conclusion of the retreat 
meetings of the students can be held and the 
work organized as is explained in the case of 
the organization of a parish Sodality. Where 
it is not possible to have a retreat, some vigor- 
ous and practical talks on Sodality work and 
ideals should be given to the Sodalists to put 
them in the mood and stir up their zeal and 
enthusiasm. For the work of organization the 
same suggestions that are given under the 
heading. Organizing a Parish School Sodality, 
which just precedes this section, may be re- 
peated and the reader is referred to them. 



Sodalities for Special Classes 147 

Besides the sections there mentioned for the 
parish school Sodality, the following additional 
activities may be introduced when they prove 
timely. 

(a) Poor Aid Section, to collect old cloth- 
ing, shoes, furnishings, etc., for the St. Vincent 
de Paul Society or for distribution to the poor 
families of the parish. 

(b) Social Study Club, to study social con- 
ditions, special needs of poor and defective 
classes, child welfare, recreational work and 
methods, etc., as preparation for intelligent 
and effective volunteer or professional work 
during vacation or after graduation. This 
volunteer study will supplement the regular 
course in sociology. 

(c) Catholic Instruction Section, whose 
members will study the methods and courses of 
catechetical instruction for children so as to 
prepare themselves to take classes during vaca- 
tion and after graduation. This section will 
supplement the class in Christian doctrine, and 
should be conducted so as to teach methods and 
class management. 

(d) Entertainment Section, to provide en- 
tertainment for inmates of the homes for the 
aged, convalescents in hospitals, children in 
orphanages and homes, etc. Plays, elocution- 



148 Social Organization in Parishes 

ary and musical evenings, operettas, etc., may- 
be given by the members. 

(e) Athletic Section, to encourage whole- 
some athletics, not for the Socialists so much as 
for the benefit of young people generally or 
for the interests of the whole school. Con- 
tests, leagues, clubs of boys and girls are ad- 
mirable means of doing good by keeping 
youngsters out of mischief. 

(f ) Musical Section, to encourage the prep- 
aration of musical programs for charitable pur- 
poses and for the work of the Entertainment 
Section, to prepare its members to teach music 
in settlement houses and night schools to poor 
Catholic children, to instruct those who wish to 
volunteer as organists and choir directors in 
small parishes and country towns. 

(g) Authorship Section, to induce and as- 
sist its members to the first steps in Catholic 
authorship, in preparing contributions for 
diocesan papers and the college magazines, and 
to help one another in the correction and bet- 
tering of manuscripts, the choice and working 
up of subjects, the choosing of periodicals, etc. 

(h) Lecture Section, to prepare lectures on 
Catholic themes, events, great periods and 
characters of history, etc., with appropriate 
series of slides to illustrate them. These lee- 



Sodalities for Special Classes 149 

tures are apportioned to several members, each 
being given a half or a third to memorize. 
They are then trained in the rendering of them, 
and the lectures are given in parishes. Catholic 
clubs and societies, and in institutions. Catholic 
and others. This has been found an excellent 
activity for college Sodalists. 

(i) Sewing Section, for girl Sodalists, to 
make clothes for the poor, vestments, altar 
linen, etc., for poor churches and the missions, 
to repair worn vestments gathered from well- 
to-do parishes and send them to the needy ones, 
to make articles of ornament and use for the 
poor and for fairs and bazaars. 

(j) Academies. These are groups of So- 
dalists who study some special subject, such as 
literature, Catholic art, history, economics, so- 
ciology, science in its various subdivisions, 
music, its theory and history, etc. An academy 
may be begun for any study within the scope 
of the Sodalists and suited to their pursuit. 

(k) Citizenship and Civic Section, to study 
the rights and duties of the ballot. 

(1) Immigrant Aid Section, to prepare its 
members for work among Catholic adult im- 
migrants, the distribution of literature, home 
making and English classes, etc. 

(m) Children's Aid Section, to help defee- 



150 Social Organization in Parishes 

tive and neglected children, form clubs, etc. 

(n) Parish School Aid Section, to get Cath- 
olic children into parish schools, help poor or 
backward pupils, provide books or clothing for 
the needy, etc. 

(o) Dramatic Section, to prepare plays, 
make lists and copies of good plays, etc. 

(p) Current Events Section, to study and 
discuss these especially from Catholic view- 
points. 

(q) Domestic Science Section, to prepare to 
teach this to poor children and mothers. 

A judicious choice among this suggested 
work is recommended. Begin with a few and 
add new activities from time to time. Some 
of the suggested work is for advanced pupils 
only. 

SOME PRACTICAL GOOD WORKS 

For the convenience of Directors who wish 
rapidly to review and consider the various 
good works which their Sodalities might un- 
dertake, we subjoin the following list of the 
activities of Sodalities and other societies, 
taken for the most part from the pages of the 
various issues of the queen's work. These 
activities will be found described more in de- 
tail under the appropriate paragraphs of the 



Sodalities for Special Classes 151 

following chapters on Sections; this list is 
meant merely as a means of quickly surveying 
the fields of possible activities : 



Absent Sodalists — weekly let- 
ters from 

Acts of Consecration — sending 
to absent members 

Alms — Lenten 

Altar Linen — making, distrib- 
uting 

Altar Vestments — making, dis- 
tributing 

Apologetics 

Apostleship of the Press 

Articles of Devotion — making 
and distributing 

Art Section 

Bad Advertisements — organ- 
ized protest against 

Bad Amusements — organized 
protest against 

Bad Exhibitions of all kinds — 
suppressing 

Bad Papers — organized pro- 
test against 

Bad Post Cards — ^suppressing 

Bad Theaters — suppressing 

Baptism — ^preparing patients 
for 

Bad Bill Boards— organized 
protest against 

Bad Pictures — suppressing 

Baskets — Christmas 

Bible — stories for children 

Birthday Parties for each 
member 

Blasphemy and Bad Language 
— suppression of 

Blind — work for the 

Boarding Schools — gathering 
discarded clothing for or- 
phans, etc. 



Book — buying one a month 

Book Exchange for poor stu- 
dents 

Book Racks — church door 

Book Talks 

Booklets — spreading 

Boys' Brigade and Cadet 
Corps 

Boys' Work-shop 

Bureau — central directory of 
boarding houses, etc. 

Bureaus — employment, medi- 
cal, legal, business advice, 
etc. 

Catechetical Instructions for 
children during the year, for 
children in the summertime, 
for prisoners, for the sick in 
hospitals, etc. 

Catholic Books in public li- 
braries — cataloguing and 
circulating 

Catholic Books — clubs to buy 

Catholic Books — distributing 

Catholic Books in public li- 
braries — introducing 

Catholic Books — white list of 

Catholic Boy Scout Band 

Catholic Instruction League 

Catholic Literature Hour — to 
teach children and interest 
them in Catholic literature 

CathoUc Magazines — collecting 
and re-distributing 

Catholic Magazines — getting 
subscribers for 

Catholic Magazines — subscrip- 
tions to, for those who can- 
not afford it themselves 



152 Social Organization in Parishes 



Catholic Schools — inducing 
parents to send their chil- 
dren to 

Charitable Institutions — giv- 
ing supplies to 

Child — adopting a 

Children's Entertainments for 
the poor 

Children — First Communion 
clothing for 

Children in Hospitals — scrap 
books for 

Children under School Age — 
morning of play for 

Chinese — night schools for 

Christ-Child Work 

Church Adornment 

Church Music 

Circulating Catholic Litera- 
ture in railroad stations and 
in street cars 

Clerical Students — educating 

Clothing and Feeding the Poor 

Clubs for Boys and Girls 

Club Rooms for the Sodalists, 
with light lunches from time 
to time in the evening 

Club Rooms — managing 

Clubs — neighborhood 

Clubs — social 

Collecting cast off clothing, 
shoes, etc., renovating it and 
selling it for a small fee for 
Catholic charities 

Conversations — spiritual 

Converts — instructing 

Current Topics — talks on 

Daily Mass 

Daily Mass for the Sodality 

Daily Rosary in families 

Dance — teaching children to 

Deaf mutes — work for 

Dinners — charity 



Dramatic Class 

Dramatic Section 

Educate Students for the 
Priesthood — section for 

Endowment Funds for Schools 

English — academies for 

Entertainments — exchanging 
with other Sodalities 

Entertainments for poor boys, 
followed by catechetical in- 
struction 

Entertainments of Music and 
Elocution — at Boys' Homes, 
etc. 

Entertainments of Music and 
Elocution — at hospitals, at 
the Little Sisters of the 
Poor, at reformatories, etc. 

Eucharistic Sections in College 
Sodalities 

Extension Work — university 

Fallen-away Catholics — seek- 
ing them out 

Fast and Abstinence for So- 
dality intentions 

Federation Activity 

Federation Sections in College 
Sodalities 

First Communion — preparing 
for 

First Communion — ^preparing 
sick children for 

Flower Section — to supply 
blossoms to the hospitals, 
after they have been used 
in social functions 

Foreign Languages — acade- 
mies for 

Frequent Communion 

Games — organizing for chil- 
dren 

Get-together meetings 

Giving Tea, tobacco, etc., to 



Sodalities for Special Classes 153 



inmates of poor houses, hos- 
pitals, etc. 
Good Reading Section 
Guardian Angel Band, each 
child to take care of a poor 
child, making or supplying 
its clothes, buying its shoes, 
etc. 
Gymnasium Class 
Home and Family Entertain- 
ments — teaching children 
and mothers how to make 
home interesting and agree- 
able 
Homes for Girls 
Hospitals — visiting 
Hospital Work, distributing 
jellies, cakes, tobacco, mag- 
azines, fruits 
Hour of Adoration 
Housekeepers — parochial 
House to House Visitation in 

tenement district 
Immigrants — helping 
Indian Missions — helping 
Infants of Needy Mothers — 
making clothing and remod- 
eling garments for 
Italian Missions — helping 
Junior Sodalities — organiza- 
tion of 
Lectures and Addresses in 
public places, e. g., in pub- 
lic squares and on street 
corners 
Lecture Bureaus 
Letter-writing Sections 
Libraries — church door 
Library — free 
Literature Sections in College 

Sodalities 
Living Rosary 
Marian Congress 



Marian Meetings 

Market — cooperative 

Marriages — revalidation of 

Masses for the Dead 

May Devotions 

Mission Sections 

Missions — supplies for the, 
vestments, ornaments for 
the sanctuary 

Mothers' and Daughters' Day, 
or Fathers' and Sons', or 
Mothers' and Sons', or Fath- 
ers' and Daughters' Day, 
with Mass, Communion and 
breakfast 

Mutual Aid Association 

Mutual Benefit Society 

Negro Missions — helping 

Night School — free 

New Arrivals — welcoming 

them 

News Boys' Homes 

Nurseries — day 

Orphan Asylums — distributing 
pictures at 

Orphans — visiting the 

Parish — card register of 

Parish Census — verifying 

Parish— districting the 

Parish Receptions to make 
parents acquainted 

Parish School Section 

Parish Welfare Section 

Parish Welfare Societies 

Penny Weekly Collections — 
among the classes of school 

Perpetual Praise Section — 
each member to take a day 
of the week for special de- 
votion 

Pilgrimages 

Poor Children — Christmas 
spreads for 



154 Social Organization in Parishes 



Poor Children — lawn parties 
for 

Poor Children — music lessons 
for 

Poor Children — vocal training 
for 

Poor Girls — bureau to sell 
handiwork of 

Poor Mothers — teaching house- 
keeping to 

Post-graduate Sodality — or- 
ganizing 

Prayer-Books — distributing 

Press Notices 

Professional Sodalities 

Publicity Work 

Public Speaking — academies 
for 

Reading to the old folk at the 
Little Sisters of the Poor, 
and helping them in other 
ways 

Reading to the Sick 

Recreation Work 

Recording Attendance — card 
system of 

Research — academies for 

Retreats — ^promotion of 

Retreats — supporting 

Retreat Houses — founding 

Retreats — organizing 

Retreats — patronizing 

Retreat Literature — spread- 
ing 

Rooming Houses — directory 
of 

Rosaries — distributing 

Sacred Vestments — repairing 
and re-distributing 

Sacred Vestments — making 

Salaried Social Work 

Scapulars — distributing 

Scholarships — perpetual 



School Census — to find Cath- 
olic children not attending 
parish school 

School Children — warm lunch 
for 

Schools — cooking 

School — free day 

Schools — industrial 

Scripture Study Section 

Section for Savings 

Section for Frequent Com- 
munion 

Section of the Holy Name 

Self-Denial Fund 

Selling Needlework for the 
Poor 

Sewing Circles, with free ma- 
terials and instruction 

Sick Benefit Section 

Sick Poor — presents to 

Sick Visiting Section 

Singing Classes for children 

Sodality Choir 

Sodality Gymnasium 

Sftdality Library 

Sodality Mass 

Sodality Organization by 
means of groups or circles 

Sodality Showers 

Sodality Social Club 

Sodality Social Re-unions 

Social Study — academies for 

Speak — teaching children to 

Spiritual Bouquets, instead of 
flowers at funerals 

Spiritual Reading 

Stenography — classes in 

Story Hours 

Study Clubs — debating 

Study Clubs — domestic sci- 
ence 

Study Clubs — English litera- 
ture 



Sodalities for Special Classes 155 



Summer Schools for backward 
children 

Talks— health 

Talks by Sodalists 

Talks to Poor Mothers — ^home- 
making, hygiene and sanita- 
tion 

To Sell Catholic Books — a 
barrow brigade from a book 
rack on wheels 

Travelers' Aid 

Union of Prayer 



Union of Sodalities — joining 

Vacation Schools for Children 

Visiting Prisoners 

Wardrobe of the Poor 

Week-end Tramps 

Women's Handiwork — ex- 

change for 

Wlorking Children — ^homes for 

Workingmen's Retreats 

Working People — savings 

bank for 

Writing — academies for 



CHAPTER III 
THE ORGANIZATION OF SECTIONS 

WHAT IS A SECTION? 

A SECTION in a Sodality is a committee 
or group of members who form a sub- 
ordinate organized body which carries on some 
special work of the Sodality. Just as a legisla- 
tive body, the Congress of the United States 
for example, cannot do all its work in the gen- 
eral meeting, but must appoint committees to 
attend to special departments of activity, so in 
Sodalities it has been found effective to divide 
up the activities among Sections or committees 
of the Sodalists. Each member of the Sodal- 
ity may then choose whatever activities he 
wishes to take part in and may volunteer for 
the Sections devoted to the works in question. 

RECOMMENDED IN THE RULES. 
TRADITIONAL 

Sections are commended in the Common 
Rules (Art. Ill, Nos. 12, 13), where, after 

156 



The Organization of Sections 157 

declaring that the Sodahty must "labor by var- 
ious means to foster piety in the Sodalists and 
to lead them to practice works of charity to- 
ward their neighbor," the rules proceed to urge 
the formation of * 'particular Sections, each 
with an organization and life of its own, though 
always subject to the governing authority of 
the Sodality." This is in accord with the best 
traditions of the Sodality. From the early 
times of the Sodality groups of fervent mem- 
bers were employed in all sorts of works of 
piety and mercy; and, though the name Sec- 
tion is of modern origin, one finds in the rec- 
ords of ancient Sodahties that almost every 
conceivable good work was undertaken at one 
time or another by some group of Sodalists, 
which would in our times be given the name of 
Section. Again, in Article VI, No. 42, it is 
said: "It is very desirable that all the Sodal- 
ists should take an active part in some one of 
the Sections, and, where circumstances permit, 
it will be good to make this of obligation." 
This is also a crystallization of the traditions 
of many fervent Sodalities, where a participa- 
tion in the active works of the Sections is a 
necessary condition of membership. Indeed, 
the zeal of those engaged in such works is in- 
dicative of the real spirit of the Sodality. 



158 Social Organization in Parishes 

ADVANTAGES OF SECTIONS. UNITY 

Sections afford a simple, flexible, and effec- 
tive method of organization. They supply a 
means to divide up and organize the works of 
the Sodalists without confusion or overlapping 
of activities and without waste of energies. 
Pastors and people often complain of the in- 
definite multiplication of societies with no bond 
of union among them, which tends to fritter 
away the powers of the laity and clergy by di- 
viding them into independent and quite sep- 
arate groups. While a certain number of sep- 
arate societies is useful and desirable, the in- 
definite multiplication of small independent or- 
ganizations, one for each need that comes up, 
tends to divide the flood of Catholic activity 
into too many shallow streams. Sections in the 
Sodality offer a means of providing for many 
needs of the parish and the Church in general, 
without establishing new societies. While the 
Sodality supplies the permanent element in the 
organization and inspires its members with zeal 
and active fervor through its meetings and the 
instructions of the Director, the Sections fur- 
nish an element of variety and a means of meet- 
ing new needs, keeping in touch with the de- 
velopment of new activities, and allowing each 



The Organization of Sections 159 

active member of the parish to choose the 
work best suited to his talents and inclinations, 
while all are kept together by the common bond 
of Sodalists and their common devotion to the 
Blessed Mother. Then the reading of reports 
from all the Sections at the general meeting of 
the Sodality acquaints all with the work which 
others are doing. Thus, instead of the jeal- 
ousy which is likely to spring from the existence 
of many small and separate organizations, the 
Sodalists all work in unison, each in his own 
sphere of activity, and there arises a friendly 
emulation among the various Sections for the 
welfare of the parish and the honor of their 
holy Queen. 

THE WORKS or SECTIONS 

Taking care that the rights and field of work 
of existing societies be not interfered with, 
since cooperation, not competition, should be 
the watchword of the Sodality, Sections may 
be formed for any good work for which there is 
need and which is within the powers of the 
members to accomplish. Permanent Sections 
will be maintained for the activities which have 
a permanent place in the Sodality's sphere of 
effort, and temporary Sections may, at the 
shortest notice, be organized to meet a special 



160 Social Organization in Parishes 

occasion, and disbanded again as soon as the 
work is no longer needed. Indeed, it is very- 
advisable to organize new Sections from time 
to time to supply the element of variety, with- 
out which even the holiest of associations is 
likelj^ to pall. In the choice of the Sections to 
be established regard should be had to the local 
needs, and those works should be first under- 
taken which best meet the more pressing needs 
and best suit the inclinations and the abilities 
of the members. Each Sodality may choose 
from among the many works proposed, the 
ones that best apply to its own membership 
and circumstances. 

COOPERATION, NOT COMPETITION 

It may be said in general that where a need 
is already being met in a parish the efforts of 
the Sodalists should be directed toward help- 
ing on the existing organization, not toward 
supplanting it. Thus, where the St. Vincent 
de Paul Society is established in the parish the 
Sodalists should be its most zealous and faith- 
ful helpers. It is not necessary nor even ad- 
visable that the Sodality assume credit for, or 
control of, all the activities in which it par- 
ticipates. It should delight in unselfish co- 
operation, and it may be often advisable to 



The Organization of Sections 161 

establish Sections for the express purpose of 
helping on some other organization. Thus, 
for example, one Section may give the services 
of its members to be Promoters for the League 
of the Sacred Heart, another Section may be 
organizers for the Holy Name Society, and 
so on. 

INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF SECTIONS 

In every Section there should be a president, 
a secretary, and, where needed, a treasurer ; and 
they will be responsible for the management 
of the work of the Section, which should be left, 
so far as is possible, in their hands. The Di- 
rector and the general officers of the Sodality 
itself should encourage, suggest, and guide, 
where necessary or helpful, but the detail work 
of the Section, upon which will depend its suc- 
cess or failure, should be left to its own officers 
and members, and they should be made to feel 
that on them rests the responsibility for the 
work, and that the credit of achievement will 
be theirs. It is of prime importance to choose 
tactful, capable, and energetic officers, and 
these may either be elected by the members of 
the Section or appointed by the Director, 
whichever seems most likely to ensure the 
choice of the most suitable leaders. It should 



162 Social Organization in Parishes 

be remembered, however, that, other things be- 
ing equal, the members of the Section are more 
hkely to cooperate well with, and to give en- 
thusiastic support to, officers that they have 
chosen themselves rather than those who are 
appointed from without. In practice the 
choice of the officers is usually easily arranged, 
since those who have been most energetic in 
organizing the Section and who have most time 
and capacity for the work will naturally be 
given charge of it. 

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECTION 

The president of the Section has general 
supervision of the work. He presides at the 
meetings, assigns workers for various tasks 
within the scope of the Section, arranges for 
special meetings, decides questions of detail, 
appoints sub-committees where required, pre- 
pares or causes to be prepared schedules of 
work and plans in advance, sees that the other 
officers of the Section attend to the charges 
committed to them, and gives general en- 
couragement, direction, and supervision to the 
work assigned to his Section. He should con- 
sult with the Director of the Sodality and its 
prefect, and be guided by their judgment, es- 
pecially in what concerns the common interests 



The Organization of Sections 163 

of the Sodality. It is of great importance that 
the one who holds this office should be able and 
willing to perform its duties exactly and with 
energy, otherwise he should be replaced with- 
out delay, since much depends on the leader- 
ship and enthusiasm of the president. None 
of these offices are to be considered honorary, 
and where a change of officers is clearly for the 
good of the work no personal considerations 
should be allowed to interfere with such a 
change. 

THE OTHER OFFICERS 

The secretary and treasurer of the Section 
will have the duties commonly assigned to such 
officers, and in case of a conflict of opinion as 
to whom certain activities belong, it may be 
decided by the president. Wherever, in the 
course of the work or from the nature of the 
Section, other officers may seem to be required, 
they may be appointed by the president of the 
Section or elected by the members with the ad- 
vice and consent of the Director of the Sodal- 
ity. Since, in the words of the rule (Art. Ill, 
No. 13) , each of the Sections has "an organiza- 
tion and life of its own, though always subject 
to the governing authority of the Sodality," 
the work of the Section will be carried on apart 



164 Social Organization in Parishes 

from the general meetings of the Socialists. 
Reports, at least in summary, of the work of 
all the Sections are to be given at the general 
Sodality meetings. So, also, each officer of a 
Section will have charge of the department of 
its work proper to his office, and will make full 
report thereof at the separate meetings of the 
Section itself. It will help to understand the 
workings of a Section, to keep in mind that it 
is a standing committee of the Sodality, sub- 
ject for the most part to the rules and enjoying 
the powers of such a committee. 

Though each Sodalist may belong to as many 
Sections as he can faithfully attend and prop- 
erly serve on, still it is not expedient, generally 
speaking, that any one should be an officer of 
more than one Section unless the works are 
so related, that having charge of one activity 
will not interfere with the energetic and com- 
petent direction of the other. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL MANAGE- 
MENT OF SECTIONS 

To ensure the successful working of a Sec- 
tion especial attention should be paid to the 
following points: 

(1) Assign to the Section a very definite 
work, making it clear just what the members 



The Organization of Sections 165 

are expected to do and giving as detailed sug- 
gestions as possible, so that all may have a 
definite notion of just what their work is to be. 

(2) Keep the work within the easy capacity 
of the workers, distributing it so that no one 
may be overburdened or forced to do more than 
his share. 

(3) See that competent officers are in 
charge, and give them as full authority and re- 
sponsibility as possible. Let it be known that 
the work is in their hands and depends on 
them, and that the credit for success is also 
largely theirs. 

(4) Take care that the work of the Section 
be given due publicity. This may be done by 
reports in the Catholic press, by summaries of 
the work read at the general Sodality meet- 
ings, and by accounts in the Church Bulletin, 
etc. 

(5) Encourage friendly competition be- 
tween the different Sections. This will be 
helped by due publicity, and may be furthered 
by praising the accomplishments of those Sec- 
tions which have the best report to make at 
the general meetings, by posting up specially 
creditable reports, etc. 

(6) Introduce a new phase of work or a 
new method from time to time. ( See the sug- 



166 Social Organization in Parishes 

gestions offered in the queen's work, bound 
volumes and current issues, passim) . 

(7) Introduce a simple practical system 
into the work and keep to it as much as pos- 
sible, so that every one may know how to pro- 
ceed and the work may go forward with 
method. 

(8) Do not attempt too much or too many 
things at a time, nor overtax the zeal or the 
energies of the workers. Remember that in 
volunteer work of this sort the workers must 
draw upon time needed perhaps for recreation 
or rest, and that no one should be expected to 
do very much at one time. A little from 
many, not much from the few, is the way in 
which the Sections should achieve their results. 

(9) Avoid cliques or closed circles, and see 
that every one who wishes may share in the 
work. 

(10) Make the spirit of supernatural self- 
sacrifice the inspiration of all exterior activi- 
ties, and remember that all the work of the So- 
dalists is to be inspired by an ardent devotion 
to the Blessed Mother of God, and that ex- 
terior works of charity and zeal have as their 
end: "to foster piety in the Sodalists them- 
selves and to give exercise to Catholic zeal and 
charity." 



CHAPTER IV 

SECTIONS FOR SODALITY 
WELFARE 

DIVISIONS OF SECTIONS 

THE work, of the Socialists naturally falls 
into four chief divisions: Work for the 
vi^elfare of the Sodality itself; Work for the 
personal holiness of the Sodalist directly; 
Work for the help of the neighbor through all 
the spiritual and corporal works of mercy ; and 
finally, Work for the defense of the Faith and 
for the welfare of the Church and its spread 
throughout the world. The Sections of the 
Sodality follow these general divisions, and 
they will therefore be dealt with under cor- 
responding heads in the chapters that follow. 
It will of course be understood that these chap- 
ters are merely suggestive, and do not pretend 
either to exhaust the subject or to lay down 
dogmatically the limits of Sodality work. 
They contain many ideas gathered from the 
experience of Sodalities and from the work of 
successful Sections here and abroad. 

167 



168 Social Organization in Parishes 

THE SOCIABILITY SECTION 

This Section will : 1 — Have charge of social 
evenings for the Socialists, arranging the en- 
tertainments and program for such occasions, 
introducing members to one another, trying to 
discourage the formation of cliques and closed 
circles among the Sodalists by promoting a 
cordial and general friendliness. 

2 — Arrange for joint meetings with other 
Sodalities, the members of both Sodalities 
meeting first at one center then at the other, 
holding a joint religious meeting, and a social 
meeting afterwards in the Sodality hall or par- 
ish school, etc. 

3 — Organize such forms of sociability in 
prayer and recreation as the Fathers' and Sons' 
Communion and Breakfast, at which the 
Young Men's Sodality members each invites 
his father, or vice versa; Mothers' and Daugh- 
ters' Communion, Breakfast, etc. A Fathers' 
and Daughters' and Mothers' and Sons' 
Breakfast is also a very successful combina- 
tion. This may also be modified to take the 
form of a Sodality dinner and Social evening, 
to which the sons will take the mothers, the 
daughters the fathers, etc. 

4 — Promote sociability in other ways, as, for 



For Sodality Welfare 169 

example, by introducing newcomers to the par- 
ish to some of the members of the Sodality, 
looking out for those who are lonely and unac- 
quainted in the parish and making them wel- 
come to Sodality meetings, etc., etc. 

THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTION 

This Section will: 1 — Take charge of the 
Sodality plays, outings, picnics, and other 
forms of entertainment organized for the gen- 
eral good of the parish. 

2 — Arrange for exchanges of plays and re- 
citals, musical, dramatic, elocutionary, etc., 
with other Sodalities. Thus, when several 
Sodalities, as is often the custom, have care- 
fully prepared a play or other entertainment, 
each may come to the other parish and repeat 
the performance, thus giving a double benefit 
for the time and care spent in preparation of 
entertainments, which would otherwise in many 
cases be enjoyed by one parish only. 

MEMBERSHIP SECTION 

This Section will: 1 — ^^Canvass the whole 
parish for new members by a house to house 
visitation, inquiring for eligible members, en- 
rolling them as candidates, taking their name 
and address, and making an appointment for 



1 *r^ 



TO Social Organization in Parishes 

them to meet the Director or Prefect. This 
will require the dividing of the parish into dis- 
tricts, having a form-blank for registering 
information received, and carrying leaflets 
which tell of the advantages of membership in 
the Sodality, to be left for perusal and reflec- 
tion by the intending candidate. ( See also the 
remarks on Districting the Parish.) The 
members of the Section doing this work should 
know thoroughly the requirements for mem- 
bership, and should not allow their eagerness 
to get new members to betray them into mini- 
mizing the requirements for membership or en- 
rolling those who are obviously unfit to be So- 
dalists. 

2 — Conduct special campaigns for member- 
ship at certain seasons of the year, for example, 
at the approach of the feast of the Immaculate 
Conception, of the patronal feast of the Sodal- 
ity, of Xew Year's, Easter, or any other 
special occasion, and at the time of the annual 
retreat. During such campaigns special 
prizes, such as a picture of the Madonna, a 
book, medal, etc., may be given to any of the 
Sodalists who bring in a certain number of ac- 
ceptable candidates for the Sodahty. 

3 — Interview members who are remiss in at- 
tendance and encourage them to be faithful. 



For Sodality Welfare 171 

trying to instill the spirit of loyalty to the So- 
dality out of devotion to the Blessed Mother. 

4 — Get in touch with new arrivals in the par- 
ish, explain to them the advantage of member- 
ship and its requirements, and induce them to 
become candidates if they are eligible, 

5 — Members of this Section may qualify as 
Instructors of Candidates and may also assist 
the Secretary in keeping the records of attend- 
ance at meetings. 

SECTION FOR THE UNION OF SODALISTS IN 

PRAYER 

1 — The members of this Section will see that 
all the Sodalists are enrolled in the Union of 
Sodalists in Prayer, and explain to new mem- 
bers the purposes of the Union. They will 
distribute the leaflets containing the prayers 
of the Union, send in the intentions and thanks- 
givings of the Sodalists monthly to the 
queen's work for publication, keep account of 
the special prayers, communions, and good 
works offered for the special intentions of mem- 
bers of the Union, and report a summary of 
them at the general meetings. 

2 — It will be the duty of the President of 
this Section, with the counsel of the members, 
to suggest to the Director special intentions 



172 Social Organization in Parishes 

for the prayers of the Socialists to be announced 
by him at the meetings, such as the repose of 
the souls of members of other Sodalities of the 
same city, lately deceased, the success of the 
works of other Sodalities and of Sodality un- 
ions in other places, special local needs, and 
whatever other intentions may be timely and 
suited to keep up the fervor and interest in 
prayer of the members of the Union. 

3 — The members of this Section may also 
assist in organizing the League of the Sacred 
Heart where no special Section exists for this 
purpose. 

THE MUTUAL AID SECTION 

The members of this Section will conduct 
Benefit Associations for the Sodalists. Great 
caution is necessary in work of this kind, and 
no plan should be adopted without the most 
mature consideration and the formal approval 
of all those in authority. The plan for financ- 
ing the undertaking should be adopted from 
some similar organization already in existence 
and whose experience has tested the worth of 
the plan, or at least the details should be sub- 
mitted to an expert in such matters for his ap- 
proval. Experts in the organization of insur- 



For Sodality Welfare 173 

ance companies are of course best qualified to 
advise. 

Benefit Associations may be formed for 
many purposes. Thus, in the Young Men's 
and Young Women's Sodalities, the benefits 
may be payable on the occasion of marriage, 
of entering the religious life, or going to study 
for the priesthood. Or they may be paid on 
occasion of sickness, of unavoidable unemploy- 
ment, of death, of disabling accident, etc., in 
the Sodalities both for the old and the young. 

One plan that has been found successful for 
a time in one Sodahty is to have each member 
pay one assessment of, say, a dollar on enter- 
ing the Section, and this is kept for the pay- 
ment of the first benefit which falls due. Then, 
at the same time that this first benefit is paid 
out, a second assessment is made on all the 
remaining members, which is deposited in a 
bank and kept for the payment of the next 
benefit. In this way the sum of one benefit 
payment is always in the treasury. 

A warning should be given in this connec- 
tion that the funeral assessment plan sometimes 
works for a time and then falls to pieces be- 
cause the members of the association grow tired 
of paying assessments, or move and are lost 



174 Social Organization in Parishes 

track of, or from carelessness in keeping the 
records, etc. The Socialists in charge of such 
a work should therefore be very careful to ex- 
plain to every one who joins this association 
the exact obligation incurred, to obtain a 
signed agreement, keep the records very care- 
fully, and insist on the prompt payment of all 
assessments. 

SAVINGS FUND SECTION 

Savings funds to encourage the members to 
put by something for a rainy day, and to foster 
the habit of thrift may also be made a part of 
Sodality activity. By arrangement with a 
local savings bank the pass books, dime banks, 
etc., may be had, and the members may agree 
to let the interest on their savings, which, 
though small in itself, will amount to quite a 
sum from many deposits, go to the benefit of 
the missions or some other worthy object. 

Loan funds section 

In the same way a fund to make loans to the 
members may be accumulated by small weekly 
or monthly contributions, and members may 
be accommodated with the use of sums of 
money for a time, paying a consideration there- 
for which will go to augment the fund. This 



For Sodality Welfare 175 

will be especially helpful in the case of Sodal- 
ities for nurses, for young men and young 
women who work, etc. There is a wide need 
for such activities to protect the members from 
the loan sharks that infest large cities, as may 
be seen from the article on the Poor Man's 
Bank in the queen's ayork for December, 
1915, page 285. But wherever any work of 
this character is undertaken, very great cau- 
tion is necessary to put and to keep all the 
transactions on a basis of strict business meth- 
ods. The neglect of business precautions will 
bring grave evils and abuses wherever there is 
a question of money and accounts. 

THE LECTURE SECTION 

This will organize and conduct public courses 
of lectures for the Sodalists and the public 
generally. Sub-committees of the Section 
may be given charge of details, as, for ex- 
ample: the Program Committee, to formulate 
plans, draw up the program, secure the services 
of lecturers, and have the programs printed; 
the Publicity Committee, to secure the widest 
possible publicity, by having notices appear as 
frequently as possible in the secular and Cath- 
olic press, by asking the pastors to announce 
the dates and subjects from the pulpit, and 



176 Social Organization in Parishes 

sending them gummed slips with the proper 
announcements each week to paste in their an- 
nouncement books, etc.; the Reception and 
Ushers' Committee, to attend to the comfort 
of those who patronize the lectures, and receive 
the lecturers who come from other places; the 
Book Table Committee, to manage the distri- 
bution or sale of booklets and pamphlets which 
may be brought by the lecturer or furnished by 
the Sodalists, and so on. 

The lecture courses should be worked up 
with great care. Timely, interesting and help- 
ful subjects should be chosen, good lecturers 
secured, and a careful publicity campaign con- 
ducted in the press, and by means of post cards, 
handbills, notices, and announcements from the 
pulpit. It sometimes helps to have the lec- 
tures in different parishes in rotation; but in 
this case great care must be taken to avoid mis- 
takes of date and place on the part of the pub- 
lic, and the Ushers' Committee should be sure 
that the hall will be ready, lighted, warmed, 
etc. Stereopticon pictures add to the interest 
of many classes of lectures, and diagrams, 
drawn on large sheets of paper so as to be gen- 
erally visible, serve to illustrate and fix the 
points of the lecture graphically. It is some- 
times found helpful, where the nature of the 



For Sodality Welfare 177 

subject permits, to introduce a short intermis- 
sion of five or ten minutes between the halves 
of the lecture, so that the audience, which has 
listened with concentration for half an hour, 
may chat and relax the mind, which thus gains 
in power of attention during the last half hour 
of the lecture. 

Effort should be made not only to enlist the 
services of lecturers who are already known 
and experienced, but also to encourage and 
bring out talent among the members of the So- 
dality itself and those of other parishes of the 
city. 

A STUDY CLASS IN LECTURING 

Those who are themselves capable of pre- 
paring and delivering lectures may form a 
study class in practical lecturing, and invite 
experienced lecturers to come and teach them 
the method of preparing a lecture, the gather- 
ing of material, treatment of the subject, and 
points of presentation and delivery. From 
the members of this study class lecturers may 
be enlisted for the following year. Where not 
enough material for such a class is found in a 
single parish, several may combine to form one ; 
or such a class may be organized through the 
Sodality Union. 



178 Social Organization in Parishes 

The subjects for the lectures should be 
chosen with an eye to the probable tastes and 
capacity of the hearers. Subjects capable of 
popular treatment may be found in great 
abundance in Catholic history. The lives of 
great Catholic leaders, of the saints of the 
Church, the patron saints of the parishes or So- 
dalities, local Catholic history, the work of 
Catholics in building up the State and the na- 
tion, Catholics in the Revolutionary War, the 
Civil War, and the Great War, the work of 
Catholic sisterhoods, the various works of the 
Sodality and of other Catholic societies— 
these and similar subjects lend themselves to 
illustrated lectures, the pictures for which may 
be obtained from articles in magazines and 
from books. Lectures on the missions, at 
home and abroad, on the Church in other lands, 
on Catholic social works, on the heroes and 
heroines of Catholic story, St. Joan of Arc, 
Columbus, Charlemagne, Marquette, De 
Smedt, Dante, St. Vincent de Paul, etc., etc., 
can be made to please and instruct general audi- 
ences. 

Special courses in social study and similar 
topics are very much to be recommended. 
Studies of conditions in one's own city, of the 
housing conditions of the poor sections of one's 



For Sodality Welfare 179 

city, of organized charity work in the city both 
Catholic and non-Catholic, the methods and 
organizations for relief and for constructive 
charity, make very profitable subjects, which 
may be made extremely interesting by the use 
of pictures. It is often possible to obtain from 
members of the clergy and the laity lectures 
on subjects with which they are specially fa- 
miliar, accounts of travel, lectures on hterary 
or scientific subjects, which they can prepare 
without much difficulty because of a previous 
familiarity with the theme. 

A course of apologetic lectures, explaining 
and defending the history, claims, doctrines, 
and moral teaching of the Church is always 
timely and may be made extremely interesting. 
It should be thrown open to non- Catholics as 
well as Catholics, and usually had better be 
positive and explanatory rather than contro- 
versial. The use of a Question Box will bring 
out difficulties and obscure points, which may 
be answered on the spot or kept for solution 
until the next meeting. The Director may 
supply the speakers, or they may be invited 
by the Sodalists themselves. Young priests 
who are assistants in city parishes will find in 
the preparation of such a course of lectures a 
means to repeat some of the most important 



180 Social Organization in Parishes 

matter of their first year of theology and put 
it into popular form. 

Vocational talks, by members of different 
professions and by skilled workers in various 
trades, form a very interesting series for So- 
dalities of young folk who are beginning life. 
These talks should aim at giving as vivid and 
accurate an account as possible of the calling 
in question, its rewards and opportunities for 
service, and the qualities requisite for success. 
Addresses on citizenship and on civic service 
and cooperation should not be neglected. It 
is extremely desirable that our Catholic people 
should be eminent in their unselfish zeal for 
civic improvement and noted for their self- 
sacrifice for the public welfare. The attitude 
of hearty cooperation with the best influences 
and movements in civic work should be incul- 
cated, and definite suggestions given for per- 
sonal service. Patriotism is not merely a senti- 
ment; it is a duty. And moreover, the best 
way to direct and control the earnest but some- 
times misguided efforts of non- Catholics for 
reform is not to criticize and condemn their 
work, which has after all much good-will at 
bottom, but to join with them where permis- 
sible and prudent, and direct their attempts 
along right lines by suggestions that are con- 



For Sodality Welfare 181 

structive and criticism that is encouraging. 
Well-prepared lectures on citizenship and pub- 
lic service will prepare our people for this co- 
operation. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF LECTURE SECTIONS 

The members of the Lecture Sections may 
also organize debates, both among the Sodal- 
ists themselves and with other Sodalities and 
societies. They may form Current Topic 
Groups, which will meet together and learn of 
and discuss public happenings, especially as 
they affect the interests of the state and the 
Church. Several may be appointed for each 
meeting of this group who will prepare a brief 
paper or talk, and the others may then ask 
questions or make comments. 

Neighborhood groups, composed of Sodal- 
ists who live in the same small district may meet 
at one another's homes for study, reading and 
discussion. 

A course of lectures on the Holy Scriptures 
has proved a very interesting series, especially 
for teachers, professional men and women, and 
others of better education. 

It is often possible to obtain special lec- 
turers from the publicity boards of railroads, 
large manufacturing interests, and social or- 



182 Social Organization in Parishes 

ganizations, who will deliver gratis a lecture 
with illustrations in the interest of the special 
work which employs them. At some public 
libraries sets of slides may be borrowed, with 
the text to accompany them. Finally it should 
be kept in mind that to bring out, train and 
encourage new lecturers is a very precious part 
of the work of this Section and one never to be 
lost sight of. 

COOPERATION WITH OTHER PARISHES 

By working in conjunction with other par- 
ishes great advantages will be gained. The 
same lecture may be given in succession in sev- 
eral places, sets of slides, etc., may be ex- 
changed and the cost divided, suggestions for 
subjects and courses may be given and re- 
ceived, and more publicity secured for the lec- 
tures, so that those who failed to hear a given 
lecture in one parish may go to hear it else- 
where. Besides, a healthy rivalry may be en- 
couraged in the development of new lecturers, 
in numbers in attendance, etc. This coopera- 
tion will of course be best secured through the 
Entertainment Committee of the Sodality 
Union, and through this committee the Lec- 
ture Sections may get in touch with the work 



For Sodality Welfare 183 

in other cities, so as to facilitate a still wider 
exchange of slides, lecturers, and ideas. 

SOME SUCCESSFUL PLANS 

The Jeanne d'Arc Club, of St. Ignatius' 
College, Chicago, has developed a very suc- 
cessful plan for the conducting of a Lecture 
Section in colleges. Lectures are prepared on 
appealing subjects, such as St. Joan of Arc, 
The Sacred Heart, God's Way of Love, The 
Bread of Life, The Soldier Saint (Ignatius) 
and his Company, Father Marquette, The 
Little Flower of Jesus, and others. These 
lectures are corrected and polished until they 
represent the subject in as attractive and ap- 
pealing a way as possible, and a collection is 
made of the best pictures obtainable, from 
which lantern slides are made to illustrate the 
lecture. Chosen members of the club, some- 
times one, sometimes three, then proceed to 
memorize the lecture, and they are trained in its 
dehvery until they are letter perfect. All this 
secures for the lecture a degree of success, for 
it is well and movingly written, delivered in a 
practiced and stirring way, and illustrated with 
appealing pictures. Experience has shown 
that such lectures are extremely popular and 



184 Social Organization in Parishes 

can compete even with the movies! (See The 
Jeanne dfArc Club, by George A. Dinneen, 
S. J., THE queen's work foi December, 1915, 
Vol. Ill, p. 265.) 

For the organization of lecture courses 
throughout a city the plan of the Catholic Fed- 
eration of Societies of Boston commends itself. 
The city was divided into districts of three or 
four parishes, with a priest in charge of each 
district. In each parish the pastor was re- 
quired to have prepared a lecture by some mem- 
ber of the parish, on some subject of Catholic 
interest. This lecture was submitted in writ- 
ing to the pastor, who corrected it, suggested 
whatever changes were expedient, and handed 
it back to the writer to be memorized. He 
then gave the lecturer whatever aid he required 
in practicing the delivery of the lecture. These 
lecturers, the subjects they were prepared to 
speak on, and the parish they represented were 
then listed and a copy sent to every pastor. 
From the list a schedule of lectures was pre- 
pared for the meetings of Federation, which 
were held in rotation in the parishes of each 
district. In this way a vast number of Cath- 
olics and others have the opportunity of hear- 
ing the lectures, and a notably good quality of 
talent is enlisted in this work. Jurists, men in 



For Sodality Welfare 185 

public life, and highly educated members of the 
laity in general are glad to offer their services 
for the work. A well-organized publicity 
committee furnishes the text of the lectures to 
the daily press for publication, and local pa- 
pers print copious extracts from the well-pre- 
pared speeches. 

The Autovan Campaign, described in the 
queen's work for January, 1918, will sug- 
gest still another activity for the Lecture Sec- 
tions. It consists in going about in an auto- 
mobile and addressing open-air meetings on 
the doctrines of the Church and on CathoHc 
principles. Positive and explanatory matter 
is recommended rather than controversy or re- 
futation, the purpose being to give non-Cath- 
olics who would never approach a Catholic 
church the opportunity to hear a frank and 
friendly account of the Church and its teach- 
ings. Books explanatory of Catholic doctrine 
may be carried for sale, and a collection may 
be taken up for the spread of Catholic litera- 
ture. 

THE COMMON CAUSE PLAN 

The Common Cause Society of Boston, from 
whose activities the Autovan Campaign de- 
veloped, holds meetings both in the open air 



186 Social Organization in Parishes 

on Boston Common and in Franklin Union 
Hall. The Free Forum Plan, as it is called, 
is followed, "the lecturer being given one hour 
to open the debate, after which discussion is in 
order. Some one of those desiring to speak 
in the negative is recognized by the president 
and is invited to take the platform for a five- 
minute statement. The negative is followed 
by an affirmative, also recognized from the 
floor. Alternating debaters are thus chosen 
until a few minutes from the time to adjourn, 
when the lecturer of the evening sums up the 
arguments in rebuttal." With due precau- 
tions and preparation this plan offers an excel- 
lent opportunity for the Lecture Section of 
Young Men's Sodalities in particular. In- 
quiry at the police headquarters will obtain in- 
formation of the places — public squares, street 
corners, and public halls, etc. — where such 
meetings can be held, and meetings may be or- 
ganized according to the above plan. Picked 
men from the Lecture Section may carry on 
the meeting, and their remarks will reach the 
very element of the people who most need to 
hear something of the teachings and principles 
of the Faith and have least opportunity to do 
so. An instance of the good to be accom- 
plished in this way is the achievement of some 



For Sodality Welfare 187 

members of a Senior Sodality in a Catholic 
college. The Director heard that a socialistic 
stmnp speaker was revihng the Church in his 
nightly speeches at a near-by corner. He sug- 
gested to some of the better speakers among the 
Sodahsts to go and take a hand in the discus- 
sion. They went, and asked the speaker, 
toward the end of his attack, whether he would 
allow a few questions, and soon brought him to 
confess that the posers they put were too much 
for him. They then mounted the soap box 
themselves and soon had the crowd cheering 
the Church and hissing the socialistic traducer. 
(See the article on The Common Cause So- 
ciety by Arthur B. Corbett, in the queen's 
WORK for March, 1915, Vol. II.) 

THE WAYS AND MEANS SECTION 

This section will have charge of providing 
funds for the special needs of the Sodality and 
for general Sodality work. The manner of 
raising funds should be chosen with careful re- 
gard to the convenience of the Sodalists and the 
circumstances of places and persons. A very 
usual way is the collecting of regular -dues, but 
in many cases it is preferable to take a collec- 
tion to which each may give what he wishes. 
The direction of the rules on this point is as 



188 Social Organization in Parishes 

follows: "Let each contribute for the ex- 
penses of the Sodality either a voluntary alms, 
such as his means permit, or a small fixed sum, 
determined by custom." (Rules, Art. 6. n. 
46.) The pecuniar}^ feature of the Sodality 
should be kept entirely subordinate, and no one 
should be vexed by insistent collections. There 
is always a temptation to realize upon the zeal 
of the members by using the Sodality as a 
money-raising organization. This has been the 
ruin of many flourishing Sodalities and the 
cause of the neglect of spiritual work. Hence 
it will be well to have on this committee the 
most tactful, prudent, and careful of the mem- 
bers, and to take care that its activities are well 
moderated and temperately carried on. Con- 
tributions for the support of Sodality work 
should be given from motives of supernatural 
generosity and zeal, and hence the members of 
this section should take care to base their ap- 
peals on this motive. If the spirit of the So- 
dalists is what it should be means will never be 
lacking for any reasonable expense. Those 
means of collection which appeal to the more 
unselfish and supernatural motives are there- 
fore to be preferred, and though the immediate 
return may not be so great as from fairs, ba- 



For Sodality Welfare 189 

zaars, raffles, and similar catchpenny schemes, 
the results in the long run will be far greater, 
because the spirit of unselfish giving will be fos- 
tered by every new effort at collecting. Our 
Catholic people should be accustomed to give 
in proportion to their means from a sense of 
duty, and not require to be coaxed by entertain- 
ments or material returns. Joint committees 
are sometimes effective, with members from 
each of the Sodalities in the parish to conduct 
a collection campaign. In some parishes a 
standing committee of members of the Men's 
Sodalities is given charge by the pastor of all 
the collection work of the parish, including 
pew rent, and the results are very good. 

COLLECTION CAMPAIGNS 

The general outlines of a collection cam- 
paign for some special purpose, as developed 
by the Y. M. C. A. and similar organizations, 
are as follows. With modifications they may 
be applied to the conduct of a parish campaign 
as well. 

First, the promise of support of the leading 
citizens is secured, with some large donations 
to serve as an initial encouragement. Then 
sound publicity is given in every available way 



190 Social Organization in Parishes 

to stir up interest in the cause for which the 
money is to be asked, and to arouse the spirit of 
generous self-sacrifice for the cause. A card 
index of the addresses of all those who may be 
expected to contribute is made from all avail- 
able sources, from lists of pew holders, rosters 
of societies, etc. Committees are formed of 
volunteer collectors, who are divided into bands 
of ten, with a captain at the head of each band. 
These bands are assigned districts, and the 
cards containing the addresses in his district are 
given to the captain of each band, carefully 
separated into packs, one for each collector for 
every day of the campaign. The addresses in 
each pack are close together, so that no time is 
lost getting from one to the other. No one can 
solicit a contribution except from one whose 
card he carries, until the last day, when any one 
may ask whomsoever he chooses. Incidental 
encouragements are provided in the way of a 
daily luncheon, when reports are read and en- 
thusiastic speeches made to kindle the zeal of 
the workers ; huge clocks or thermometers which 
indicate by the motion of the hands or the rise 
of the mercury the progress of the pledges 
secured, from zero to the amount desired; the 
ringing of bells and tooting of whistles when- 
ever ten thousand dollars more has been col- 



For Sodality Welfare 191 

lected ; and similar devices to stimulate interest 
and rouse enthusiasm. These details, trifling 
though they may seem, are of great value as 
helps toward success. 



CHAPTER V 

SECTIONS FOR PERSONAL 
HOLINESS 

SPIRITUAL READING SECTION 

SUPREMELY important for the cultiva- 
tion of personal holiness is the regular 
practice of spiritual reading, the perusal of 
books which directly tend to instruct the mind 
in the ways of holiness and to move the will to 
walk therein, The members of the Spiritual 
Reading Section will therefore devote them- 
selves to practicing this most helpful spiritual 
activity and encouraging its practice by others. 
They will therefore agree: 

1 — To read every day for at least a quarter 
of an hour some approved spiritual book, such 
as the life of a saint, a work on a directly spirit- 
ual topic, oi an article in a Catholic periodical 
on a point of personal holiness. 

2 — To use their influence in a tactful and 
prudent way to induce others to make daily 
spiritual reading. This may be done by recom- 
mending some book that we have found spe- 
cially helpful ourselves ; by speaking of the in- 

192 



For Personal Holiness 193 

terest, profit, charm we have found in spiritual 
reading; by offering to read a spiritual book 
aloud while others are working or sewing, etc. ; 
by having on hand copies of our own of the 
books we are most interested in and have found 
most helpful, and lending them to others after 
we have aroused their desire to read them by 
speaking of the books ; by tactfully introducing 
the subject of the profit and need of spiritual 
reading in such a way as to make others wish to 
practice it; by pointing out in the Sodality li- 
brary such spiritual books as we think our 
friends will specially appreciate and enjoy. 
All this is to be done with delicacy and consid- 
eration, so as to avoid giving the appearance 
that we are preaching or endeavoring to reform 
others. On the other hand, a false delicacy 
and timidity should not be suffered to deter us 
from this work, since spiritual reading is so 
needed and neglected at this time. The mem- 
bers of the Section should realize that theirs is 
a true apostolate, of immense importance to the 
Church and to souls. 

3 — By encouraging the purchase of spiritual 
books, and forming groups for that purpose. 
Thus a club may be formed of twelve or more 
persons to purchase that many copies of the 
Imitation of Christ, the New Testament, or 



194 Social Organization in Parishes 

some other spiritual book, which may then be 
had from the pubhshers at wholesale prices. 
"Buy a book a month," or even, "Buy a book a 
year," would be an excellent motto to express 
this purpose of the Section. All members 
should thus be encouraged to form their per- 
sonal libraries. 

4 — By arranging to meet at the houses of 
friends in rotation on some night of the week 
for spiritual reading in common, with a little 
informal discussion, each remarking what he 
or she considers the most striking thought in 
the evening's reading. While one is reading 
the others may work or sew. The rest of the 
evening may be passed in reading some work of 
Cathohc letters or in talk. 

5 — By making a list of the spiritual books in 
the Sodality library and helping to add to them 
from time to time ; and by having such spiritual 
books as are of more general interest bought 
for the Public Library. When this is done it 
should be the care of the Section to induce 
others to take these books out, and to do so 
themselves, so that the librarian may see that 
there is a genuine demand for such books. 

6— By prayer and study in the interest of 
spiritual reading. At few periods of the world 
was there more need of such reading than now. 



For Personal Holiness 195 

when the flood of trashy and harmful reading 
and the prevalence of worldliness and distrac- 
tion make it more than ever necessary to fortify 
the mind and strengthen the will with spiritual 
thoughts and motives. Therefore the members 
of this Section should look on their task as of 
sacred moment, and should use every effort, by 
prayer, study, and work, to make their aposto- 
late effective. Few works of the Sodality are 
more important, and few require more tact, 
courage, and perseverance. 

FREQUENT COMMUNION SECTION 

The members of this Section will pray, 
study, and work for the spread of frequent and 
daily communion. As regards the personal 
practice of frequent communion, all the Sodal- 
ists are invited by the Rule to take part in the 
work of this Section. The passage reads: 
"They should consider as addressed in a special 
way to them the invitation to frequent and daily 
communion which the Holy See has made to 
all the Faithful, and therefore each and 
every Sodalist is earnestly recommended to 
strengthen himself with the Bread of Angels, 
not only on the day when he can gain a plenary 
indulgence as a Sodalist, but also to strive to 
follow the pious and salutary custom, most eag- 



196 Social Organization in Parishes 

eriy desired by Christ, Our Lord, and the Cath- 
olic Church, of approaching the Holy Table 
often and even daily." (Art. 6, n. 39.) 

To organize and systematize this practice of 
frequent communion among the Sodalists, and 
to aid them in extending it to others, a crusade 
of personal devotion and apostolic propaganda 
for the honor of the Blessed Eucharist has been 
begun through the queen's work, after the 
suggestions obtained from a similar movement 
in England. Those who participate in this 
crusade are called The Knights and Ladies of 
the Blessed Sacrament. This name designates, 
not a new confraternity or society, nor, indeed, 
an organization of any kind, but a personal 
service and a crusade of devotion. The follow- 
ing paragraphs have been widely used to ex- 
plain the work of these crusaders. For brev- 
ity's sake the work of the men is spoken of 
throughout, but whatever is said of the Knights 
is to be understood of the Ladies also, as the 
work of the men and women, boys and girls is 
identical. 

THE KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF THE BLESSED 
SACRAMENT 

The Knights are a body pledged to a Cru- 
sade for promoting frequent communion. 



For Personal Holiness 197 

They are bound by their Word of Honor to be 
at least weekly communicants and to promote 
daily communion. They do not form a con- 
fraternity, guild or sodality, but an Individual 
Service, 

The Knight serves the Blessed Sacrament in 
every way that presents itself, and leads in a 
Crusade of chivalrous devotion to spread the 
love for his Eucharistic King. 

The Knight is bound by his Word of Honor 
(his promise does not bind under sin) : 

1 — To be at least a weekly communicant; 
and, if through no fault of his he has been com- 
pelled to miss, he will make up for it by an 
extra communion, knowing that nothing so 
conduces to the glory of God as his Knight's 
duty. 

2 — To hand on what he has received, by ex- 
plaining the Crusade, and by knighting others 
after receiving their Word of Honor, 

3 — To endeavor to make a Knight's Vigil 
by visiting the Blessed Sacrament occasionally, 
if only for a few minutes. 

5 — To make a practice of attending Benedic- 
tion services. 

6 — To genuflect profoundly, reverently, 
upon entering or leaving the church. 

7 — To watch at the Forty Hours' devotion. 



198 Social Organization in Parishes 

8 — To make the sign of the Cross reverently 
and with dignity. 

9 — To fight against anything in thought, 
word or deed in himself or from others, that 
may endanger the pm-ity of his soul or body. 

10 — To offer his weekly communion for all 
the Knights on the central Roll of Honor, not 
excluding other intentions. 

Confession 

Although few things are more powerful in 
keeping the Knight ''fit" in soul and body than 
weekly confession, the Knight does not in- 
clude this in his Word of Honor, as it is some- 
times difficult for a busy man, and, provided 
he is not conscious of any serious sin, he will 
more faithfully serve by making an act of con- 
trition for his venial sins and going to his 
Knight's duty. 

Those Who Are Already Weekly 
Communicants 

These, evidently, should become Knights in 
order to encourage and lead, by organization 
and persuasion, men and youths who will 
more readily follow a noble and chivalrous ex- 
ample. 



For Personal Holiness 199 

Priest-Knights 

The Fathers of the secular and regular 
clergy in becoming Knights undertake to pro- 
mote the Crusade in their parishes, with their 
penitents, and among those in any way under 
their care. 

Ecclesiastical Students and Religious 

As it is possible for these to be daily com- 
municants — the highest grade in the Circle of 
Knights — they become Knights by giving their 
Word of Honor to receive daily unless pre- 
vented by indisposition or other legitimate ex- 
cuse. 

Promoter-Knights 
These undertake to form a Circle of twelve. 

The Knight's Thanksgiving 

The Knight of the Blessed Sacrament 
makes a special feature of his thanksgiving 
after communion, and, unless pressed for time, 
always remains from seven to ten minutes after 
the end of Mass. 

The Age of Admission 

The Crusade is carried on by men, but 
young people may be admitted as Pages when 



200 Social Organization in Parishes 

they have made their First Communion, and as 
Junior Knights when they have turned their 
thirteenth birthday. 

The Knight's Magazine 

All information concerning the Knights of 
the Blessed Sacrament will be found month by 
month in the queen's work, St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. 

The Badge of the Knight of the 
Blessed Sacrament 

The badge may be obtained from the 
queen's work. 

N. B. — Although the Knight's Word of 
Honor pledges him to weekly communion, he 
will endeavor to lead the Crusade of daily com- 
munion whenever possible, and a vast number 
of Knights are daily communicants. 

The Form of Initiation 

The Knight's Word of Honor: 

The Candidate says: 

It is my will to seek admission into the Circle of 
Knights of the Blessed Sacrament. On my Word of 
Honor I 'promise to receive the Most Holy Body and 
Blood of my Lord in Holy Communion at least once a 
week, and to observe all the customs of the Knighthood, 

Signature 



For Personal Holiness 201 

The Knight receiving the Candidate says : 

In 'virtue of the power duly vested in me, I receive you 
into the Circle of Knights of the Blessed Sacrament. 
Your name shall now he inscribed upon the Roll of the 
Knighthood, and may it he written forever in the Booh 
of Life. 

Signature 

N. B. — The Knights keep their signed forms^ but in 
all cases full names and addresses must be sent to the 
Director, the Editor of the queen's work_, St. Louis, 
Missouri. 



A PLAN FOR SCHOOLS 

In schools, academies and colleges the fol- 
lowing plan has been found very practical. 
Badges are secured of the Knights and Ladies 
of the Blessed Sacrament, which remain the 
property of the school. The money for this 
purpose may be secured from some generous 
benefactor, or may be raised by the Commun- 
ion Section of the Sodality by opening a sub- 
scription for the purchase of the badges. A 
badge is given to every student who makes the 
pledge of the Knights and Ladies of the 
Blessed Sacrament as given above, to be worn 
so long as he or she is faithful to the conditions 
of the promise, and surrendered if the crusade 
is given up. Of course a slight or temporary 
defection does not count, but only an abandon- 



202 Social Organization in Parishes 

merit of the pledge. Three degrees of mem- 
bership are established, as follows: 

1 — First Degree: Those who practice 
weekly communion. 

2 — Second Degree: Those who go at least 
twice a week. 

3 — Third Degree : Those who receive prac- 
tically every day. 

It is well to inaugurate the crusade of the 
Knights and Ladies in school each year by a 
solemn meeting of all the students, at which an 
instruction on frequent and daily communion 
is given, the pledge is read aloud by the pre- 
fect of the Sodality or the president of the 
Frequent Communion Section, and signed by 
each of the students desiring to join in the cru- 
sade (each of the candidates comes forward in 
turn and signs the Roll of Honor, which is 
placed on a table in the front of the chapel, and 
a badge of the Knights or Ladies of the 
Blessed Sacrament is given to each member) . 
Any student who will fulfill the conditions may 
become a member of the Knights and Ladies 
of the Blessed Sacrament, whether a member 
of the Sodality or not. The members of the 
Communion Section of the Sodality then take 
charge each of a band of ten or more of the 
Knights or Ladies, and secure from them re- 



For Personal Holiness 203 

ports of the number of communions received 
each week, to be published or put on the bul- 
letin board as totals for the encouragement of 
all. 

It is to be noted that, although the activities 
of the Knights and Ladies of the Blessed Sac- 
rament are not confined to the Sodalists, still 
the members of the Sodality are to be the chief 
promoters and workers in this crusade. In 
fact the Knights and Ladies of the Blessed 
Sacrament offer a very simple and practical 
means of carrying out the second part of the 
purpose of the Communion Sections, which is 
to encourage the practice on the part of others 
as well as to practice frequent communion 
themselves. 

SECTION FOR STUDY AND PRAYER FOR THE 
INCREASE OF FREQUENT COMMUNION 

Heartfelt and persevering prayer for the in- 
crease of frequent communion, the offering of 
one's own communions and of acts of charity, 
devotion, and sacrifice for this intention, are 
works of this Section most pleasing to our Lord 
in the Blessed Sacrament. The members 
should also study the subject so as to become 
more fervent themselves and to be able to give 
better reasons to others for this holy practice. 



204 Social Organization in Parishes 

All should be familiar with the letter of the 
Holy Father Pius X on this subject, and un- 
derstand it, and they should also read some of 
the excellent books that were written in expla- 
nation and support of the urgent invitation of 
the Pope to all the Faithful to go to Holy 
Communion often and, if possible, every day. 
The easy conditions laid down by the Pope for 
frequent and daily commimion, i. e., that the 
one who receives daily need only be in a state 
of grace and approach the Holy Table with a 
good intention, should also be thoroughly un- 
derstood, and the members should have in mind 
sound arguments drawn from the benefit to 
one's own soul, the wish of the Pope, the 
Church, and of Our Lord Himself, and the 
great honor given to Christ, to persuade others 
to this holy custom of daily communion. 

Finally, when they find the chance, the mem- 
bers should try with tact and perseverance to 
put it into the minds of others to communicate 
often. A word of encouragement, a simple 
explanation of the easy conditions on which the 
Pope invites all to receive daily, a bit of praise 
for some one who is making sacrifices to go 
often to communion — such effective little acts 
of zeal will readily occur to the members of the 
Frequent Communion Section. 



For Personal Holiness 205 

DAILY MASS SECTION 

Where the number of the Sodalists or other 
conditions render it advisable, a separate Sec- 
tion may be established in the Sodality for the 
devotion of daily Mass. Elsewhere the Com- 
munion Section may take up the promotion of 
this admirable practice. The Sodalists of the 
Section for daily Mass will themselves attend 
Mass every day, and will encourage the prac- 
tice in others. They will do well to join the 
Confraternity of Daily Mass, lately established 
in New York and emnched with indulgences, 
and to induce others to join it. 

PERPETUAL PRAISE SECTION 

The object of this Section is to organize its 
members to keep up a continual succession of 
acts of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Our 
Blessed Lady, the secondary patron of the So- 
dality, etc. The members will therefore each 
be assigned a day of the week on which to re- 
ceive Holy Communion, and offer their prayers 
and good works for these intentions, perform- 
ing, besides, some special acts of devotion, such 
as visits to the Blessed Sacrament, when prac- 
ticable, the recitation of special prayers, etc., 
as an oblation of praise. In this way a con- 



206 Social Organization in Parishes 

certed and perpetual praise is offered by the 
members as well as a continual reparation for 
the coldness and indifference of the world. 

Another plan for the same Section is to di- 
vide the members into groups of twelve and as- 
sign to each group one day of the week. The 
twelve members will then each take one hour 
of the day assigned to their group, to be passed 
in special recollection and prayer. 

Still another method is to keep one hour of 
praise and adoration each day, thirty members 
being assigned each a day of the month on 
which to keep this hour of praise. 

Finally, some day of the week, for instance 
Saturday, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, may 
be kept as a day of praise, each of the members 
taking one hour of the day for special recollec- 
tion and prayer, and a joint meeting being held 
in the evening for prayers in common. 

The method adopted will of course depend 
on the number of members and the character 
of the Sodality. 

THE MASS SECTION 

Provides means for having a Mass said once 
every week or once every month, according as 
the members agree, for the intentions of the 
living members of the Section. 



For Personal Holiness 207 

THE HOLY PACT 

This is an agreement between the members 
to give the first intention in the petitionary- 
part of Sunday Mass, communion, beads, and 
other good works, to those members assigned in 
their turn by the president of the Section. If 
for any reason a member desires prayers on any 
special Sunday not her own, she can exchange 
with the member assigned for that Sunday. 
Each recipient may apply the fruits to any in- 
tention she wishes, but only among the living. 
The bands may be arranged so that each mem- 
ber will receive one Sunday a month. 

THE VISIT SECTION 

Makes visits to the Blessed Sacrament, with 
spiritual communion, and to our Blessed Lady, 
to pray for the Sodality and its members. 
Some make this visit daily, some several times 
a week, some every week, so that there are 
three degrees. 

THE ROSARY SECTION 

Encourages its members to the recitation of 
the Rosary. All who become members recite 
the beads every day. The distribution of rosa- 
ries that have been blessed for the Dominican 



208 Social Organization in Parishes 

and Crozier indulgences, etc., may likewise be 
undertaken. Catholics in the army and navy, 
in public and private institutions, and the poor 
may be the beneficiaries. 

THE SILENT CRUSADE OF REPARATION 

Its members agree to make instant atone- 
ment for wrongful acts or words, seen or heard, 
and for their own transgTcssions so soon as they 
become aware of them, by the aspiration: 
"Thy Kingdom Come !" The principle under- 
lying this work is a very reasonable one: that 
we should adopt in the spiritual life the wise 
maxim of business, *'Pay as you go!" and 
should make daily and hourly reparation for 
the faults which we commit ourselves, or for 
the unkind, disrespectful, angry, profane, or 
improper acts, remarks or expressions which 
come under our notice. This is explained in a 
small leaflet issued on the subject. 

SACRED HEART SECTION 

The members will act as promoters for the 
League of the Sacred Heart, discharging faith- 
fully the usual duties of promoters and striving 
to spread this admirable devotion in every way 
in their power. If desired, the promoters of 
the League in a parish may be formed into this 



For Personal Holiness 209 

Section, thus keeping them in touch with the 
activities of the Sodahty and giving them an 
opportunity to induce all the members of the 
Sodality to join the League and be fervent in 
their practice of the devotion. 

THE HOLY NAME SECTION 

Where the Holy Name Society is established 
in a parish the active promoters may be 
grouped into this Section, and the Section itself 
may be formed where no Holy Name as yet 
exists, for the promotion of that organization. 
On another page the relation between the So- 
dality for men and the Holy Name Societies 
will be treated in detail. Sufficient to say here 
that there is no conflict whatever between the 
aims of these two societies, both approved by 
the Church and both specially intended for 
men, and that through the organization of a 
group of Sodalists into a Section of promoters 
for the Holy Name the pastor may be sure of 
always having at hand devoted men who will 
work to enlist all the men of the parish in the 
Holy Name. Nor does this imply making the 
Holy Name Society subordinate in any way to 
the Sodality. For it would be quite as useful 
and as proper, where need was and if the con- 
stitution of the Holy Name Society favored 



210 Social Organization in Parishes 

such a work, to form a group of members of 
the Holy Name to encourage membership in 
the SodaHty. A holy spirit of cooperation be- 
tween the approved societies of the Church is 
much to be desired, and the help given to the 
work of other societies is not lost to the So- 
dality itself, but brings down in greater meas- 
ure the grace of God upon its work and stirs 
up the members to greater zeal for the work of 
the Sodality itself. 

THE MEDITATION SECTION 

The members of this Section will agree to 
make at least a quarter of an hour of medita- 
tion every day, in accord with the rule of the 
Sodality. They may also secure and circulate 
leaflets containing outlines of meditations, ap- 
proved books containing the points for daily 
meditation, and works explaining and encour- 
aging the most excellent and fruitful practice 
of mental prayer. The members of this Sec- 
tion should also be deeply and practically in- 
terested in the promotion of what are called 
"closed retreats," where the retreatants retire 
to some secluded religious house and give the 
entire time of the retreat to mental prayer, the 
examination of their conscience and the form- 



For Personal Holiness 211 

ing of good resolutions. They should also be 
ready, with tact and prudence, to encourage 
others to take up the practice of mental prayer 
and to induce them to join this Section. In 
this distracted age few things are more neces- 
sary for the cultivation of the interior life, 
which it is one of the chief objects of the So- 
dality to foster, than the practice of at least a 
few moments of mental prayer every day. 
Hence this Section has an object far more im- 
portant than appears at first sight, and the 
numbers and fervor of its membership will be 
a good index of the solid piety of the Sodalists. 

THE SECTION FOR MONTHLY RECOLLECTION 

In small Sodalities this Section may be 
merged with the Meditation Section. Its pur- 
pose is to organize and encourage the practice 
of a monthly recollection, at which the Sodalists 
assemble for a day each month to go over the 
matter of their last annual retreat, recall their 
good resolves, and give as much of the day as 
they can to this holy practice, to spiritual read- 
ing and mental prayer. A regular order of 
exercises for the monthly recollection should 
be adopted, and the meetings for this purpose 
may be held either at some religious house 



212 Social Organization in Parishes 

where retreats are given or in the Sodality Hall 
and the church. As much quiet and recollec- 
tion as possible should be secured. 

THE RETREAT SECTION 

Will have as its purpose to promote and en- 
courage in every practicable way the making 
of what are called "closed retreats," both by 
the members of the Section themselves and by 
others, even those without the Sodality. In 
many localities these retreats are held periodi- 
cally at colleges and religious houses, semmar- 
ies, etc., for men; and for women at convents, 
where those wishing to make such a retreat are 
invited to come for three or four days, usually 
at the week's end, and give their whole time and 
attention for that period to mental prayer, ex- 
amination of conscience, and the making of 
good resolutions. But this good work needs 
the aid of lay helpers who will encourage others 
to come to make a retreat, organize bands of 
retreatants, make public the dates assigned, as- 
sist in raising whatever funds are needed for 
the progress of the work, distribute leaflets 
telling of the advantages of a retreat, and en- 
courage those who are backward or timid about 
entering on this new experience. To cooper- 



For Personal Holiness 213 

ate in all these ways will be the duty of the 
members of the Retreat Section. 

It is this sort of closed retreat that is recom- 
mended in the rules and should be part of the 
yearly routine of the Sodality wherever pos- 
sible. But, as it is often not practicable for all 
the members of the Sodality to assemble to- 
gether for a closed retreat, it will be well for 
the Retreat Section to induce as many as pos- 
sible of the Sodalists to make each year one of 
the closed retreats in addition to the usual So- 
dality exercises. To go apart from one's daily 
affairs and give one's whole time to the affairs 
of the soul has a degree of efficacy far beyond 
that of the usual preached retreat, where the 
distractions of daily hf e have full swing except 
during the few hours given to listening to in- 
structions. 

Where there is no established center of re- 
treats for the laity it will be the work of this 
Section to encourage and promote the com- 
mencement of such retreats in some suitable 
religious house, by forming bands of volunteers 
who are willing to make the exercises of a 
closed retreat, by guaranteeing the necessary 
expenses, and undertaking to give the neces- 
sary publicity to insure success. The most 



214 Social Organization in Parishes 

happy result of the efforts of the devoted mem- 
bers of the Retreat Section would be the es- 
tablishment in their city of a House of Retreats 
entirely devoted to this most holy and fruitful 
work. In Europe, at last reports, there were 
over one hundred such houses, some for men 
and some for women, and there is no reason 
why the work should not flourish here in equal 
measure. Such a House of Retreats would be 
open all year round, in charge of a competent 
priest who would direct the retreatants, and a 
schedule could be arranged by which all classes 
and ages might have their opportunity to come 
and make the exercises of a retreat. 

It is difficult to overestimate the importance 
of the work of this Section at a time when men 
and women so much need just the opportunity 
for solitude and reflection which a retreat will 
give them. Closed retreats are without doubt 
a providential answer to the needs of the day, 
and an antidote to the prevalent distraction and 
worldliness. Instead of one or two scattered 
houses of retreat, such as exist at present in 
this country, there should be scores of these 
sanataria of the spiritual life, so distributed 
throughout our large centers of population that 
one would be within easy reach of every one 
who wished to refresh and strengthen his soul 



For Personal Holiness 215 

by the exercises of a retreat. Where a Union 
of Sodahties exists it will be possible in the 
course of time to unite the various Sections for 
promoting retreats into a joint committee 
which can effectually undertake the promotion 
of a permanent house of retreats in coopera- 
tion with other organizations. 



CHAPTER VI 

SECTIONS FOR THE HELP OF THE 
NEIGHBOR 

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY 

THE first step in the planning of Sections 
for the help of the neighbor should be a 
careful survey of the field of action. The ac- 
tivities undertaken should be suited to the abili- 
ties of the Sodalists, conformable to the needs 
of the parish, and not in conflict or competition 
with the work of existing societies. To plan 
wisely it is necessary to know clearly just what 
are the capacities of the Sodalists, what are the 
leading needs of the parish and what is already 
being done to meet them. This survey may be 
made either informally by the Director and of- 
ficers in consultation (and this will be the best 
plan in small parishes, where conditions are 
well known and readily discussed) or a more 
formal investigation may be made, by appoint- 
ing committees of Sodalists to report at a Con- 
suitors' meeting and then discussing the facts 

216 



For the Help of the Neighbor 217 

they present concerning the important points 
mentioned above. 

The perusal of the following suggestions for 
work for the neighbor will supply the heads of 
the discussion, and the object should be clearly 
to define the situation in the parish and pru- 
dently to plan the Sections most needed at the 
present time and in which it is likely that the 
Sodalists will be most interested and hence 
most successful. 

Though a great many activities are here sug- 
gested it is not intended that all shall be done 
at once nor that every work is to be taken up 
by each Sodality. The result of a careful pre- 
liminary survey should be to put the Director 
and the officers of the Sodality in a position so 
to plan and choose the work to be attempted 
that it may interest the workers and give them 
a field for the exercise of zeal and devotion 
without overburdening them with work or in- 
terfering with existing enterprises. 

The conmiittees which are appointed to re- 
port for this survey may be the following : 

1. — Committee on Needs and Opportunities 
for work in the parish. This committee may 
go over the suggestions which follow, and make 
investigations in regard to the activities which 
are presently needed in their locality. Where 



218 Social Organization in Parishes 

the parish is large it may be necessary to divide 
the field of the committee, as, for example, 
into: Need of work for strangers and drift- 
ers; for the poor and unemployed; for children; 
for sociability and cultural activities ; for Cath- 
olic immigrants and their families; for Cath- 
olic literature ; school aid ; moral influences ; so- 
cial work, and whatever other departments of 
investigation local conditions may make neces- 
sary. The ones who investigate these particu- 
lar subjects will be qualifying themselves for 
active work along the lines with which they 
thus become familiar. 

2. — ^^Committee on Existing Activities. This 
committee will make a careful report on the 
work already being done in the parish, so as to 
obviate any duplication, conflict, or competi- 
tion. Where some other society is already 
working to meet a need the Sodalists may of 
course form a Section to cooperate and furnish 
workers if needed. Where necessary a third 
committee may make an investigation into the 
number and capacities of those Sodalists who 
will take a share in the work, but in general the 
Director and the Consultors will be familiar 
with the membership of the Sodality and can 
inquire beforehand as to how many wish to join 



For the Help of the Neighbor 219 

Sections and what they will be specially inter- 
ested in doing. 

Obviously, in many parishes where the con- 
ditions are very well known to the Director and 
the needs are simple it will be enough for him 
to look over the suggestions given in the follow- 
ing paragraphs and to suggest to the Sodalists 
what he considers the most timely work to be 
done. 

DISTRICTING THE PARISH 

It has been found exceedingly helpful for the 
orderly and thorough accomplishment of work 
for the neighbor, particularly in large and 
crowded parishes, to district the parish ; that is, 
to divide the territory covered by the parish 
into a certain number of districts so as to in- 
clude in each approximately the same number 
of Catholic families. 

Each district should represent so far as is 
possible a like field of work, and to provide for 
this the districting should take into account not 
only the number of Catholic families residing 
in the district, but also the nature of the popu- 
lation and the character of their dwelling 
places. Thus some parts of the parish may be 
very thickly populated by very poor parishion- 



220 Social Organization in Parishes 

ers, and here the district should have less terri- 
tory. Another part of the same parish may 
have a scattering of Catholic families, well- 
to-do, easy of access, and therefore not requir- 
ing so much personal attention to keep them in 
touch with the pastor ; and here the district may 
be made much larger in territory. About fifty 
famihes in a district has been found a conven- 
ient arrangement in some places, but no hard 
and fast rule can be given. 

Especially is it necessary to give study and 
care to the work of districting in the case of a 
large and crowded city parish with a poor and 
transient population. After a year's experi- 
ence it will probably be found advisable to re- 
district the parish in the light of experience of 
actual conditions in the various localities. 

A MAP or THE PARISH 

When the districts and their limits have been 
decided on it is well to have made a blueprint 
map of the parish and to give copies to the 
various workers, who need to know the bound- 
aries of the districts. This will make it pos- 
sible to distribute workers evenly at a moment's 
notice by giving to each one a definite part of 
a district to work in. It will also prevent over- 
lapping of work when many are engaged to- 



For the Help of the Neighbor 221 

gether. Such districting will be especially 
helpful and even necessary in organizing the 
work of the Parish Welfare Section. 

THE PARISH WELFARE SECTION 

The members of this Section assist the pas- 
tor in keeping in touch with all the parish, 
promoting its spiritual and temporal welfare 
under his direction, in the ways to be herein- 
after explained. In particular they bring to 
the notice of the pastor those cases and condi- 
tions among the parishioners which need his 
special attention and ministrations. 

It is increasingly hard for the pastor of the 
present day to keep in touch with all of his 
sometimes too numerous flock, because of mod- 
ern circumstances — the overcrowded living con- 
ditions, the unsettled state of many neighbor- 
hoods where there is constant changing of resi- 
dence and moving in and out of the parish, the 
number of drifters and strangers in lodging 
houses and hotels, and the presence of colonies 
of immigrants or of the very poor. The Par- 
ish Welfare Section is a tried and practical 
way of organizing the laity to assist the pastor 
in keeping in touch with his people, welcoming 
the newcomers, discovering cases that require 
particular care, while at the same time safe- 



222 Social Organization in Parishes 

guarding the spiritual jurisdiction which is the 
exclusive province of the priest. It has been 
thoroughly tested under rather difficult condi- 
tions and found successful to a remarkable de- 
gree. ( See the article : A Successful Parish 
Welfare Section and Its Work, in the 
queen's vtork for December 1915, page 290, 
Vol. Ill, No. 5.) 

ORGANIZATION' OF THE SECTION 

The following officers may be elected or ap- 
pointed by the Director: A president, vice 
president, secretary, treasurer, and one captain 
for every district in the parish. 

Each captain will then personally enlist as 
many aids or lieutenants as he needs in his 
work. The captains will report directly to the 
pastor or Director, and the aids or lieutenants 
will report to the captain of their district. On 
his part the Director will issue instructions and 
suggestions to the captains, and only through 
them to the aids and lieutenants under their di- 
rection. 

The first task of the Welfare Section will be 
to make a complete card catalogue of the par- 
ish, and this should be done by them independ- 
ently, even though such a catalogue already ex- 



For the Help of the Neighbor 223 

ists. The making of such a catalogue is an 
excellent way to become acquainted with one's 
district, and the new record will serve to sup- 
plement and verify the one that already exists, 
made perhaps by different workers. 

THE PARISH CATALOGUE 

A convenient form for this catalogue has 
been found to be that on a card 3x5 inches, 
ruled horizontally so as to divide the card into 
twelve sections on either side, and ruled verti- 
cally so as to allow convenient spaces for writ- 
ing in the following information. On one 
side, across the top of the card, will be written 
the family name and residence; on the other 
side, at the top, the last previous residence, 
and the number of males in the family over 
twenty-one years ; then, in the ruled spaces be- 
low, the name of each individual in the family, 
beginning with that of the father and mother, 
and the following details after each name: 
Age? Married or single? Baptized? First 
Communion? Confirmed? Easter Commun- 
ion? School? Pew? And on the other side 
of the card: Occupation? Country of birth? 
Householder or renter? Contributes to the 
support of the Church? Convert? Lan- 



224 Social Organization in Parishes 

guage? Sodality? and Remarks. In most of 
these spaces it will be necessary merely to mark 
yes or no. 

TAKING THE CENSUS 

This canvass of the parish is to be made by 
the captains, with the assistance of their lieu- 
tenants, and it will help their work very much 
if blueprint copies of the map of the parish be 
provided for each worker, with the districts 
clearly outlined and numbered. Each captain 
may then divide his own district between him- 
self and his lieutenants as seems most conven- 
ient. 

Where there are several assistant -pastors in 
the parish it is well for them to divide the dis- 
tricts among them, each taking charge of a 
proportionate number, and overseeing the work 
done there. Cases requiring special attention 
in these districts may then be referred to the 
pastor in charge. 

SPECIAL CASES 

In making this census and card index the 
workers will become familiar with conditions in 
their own district, will meet the people, and 
will be brought in touch with cases which need 
special attention. Those who have not made 



For the Help of the Neighbor 225 

their Easter duty, who have married outside 
the Church, or whose marriage is not vahd, who 
are sending their children to public schools, 
who have not yet been confirmed or made their 
first communion, or who are laboring under any 
other difficulty in the practice of their faith, or 
suffering any special obstacle to salvation, 
should be the object of particular solicitude on 
the part of the welfare workers. They may 
try prudently to arrange matters themselves, 
and, if they do not succeed, should bring the 
case to the attention of the pastor, and give him 
all the information they have acquired. 

THE MONTHLY VISITATION 

The welfare workers should repeat this visi- 
tation of their whole district every month. 
They should carefully look out for and take a 
complete record of all new arrivals in the dis- 
trict, should report those who are moving out of 
the parish or into another district, should notify 
the pastor of any special need for his good of- 
fices, and in general should be on the alert and 
vigilant to promote the spiritual and temporal 
welfare of all the Catholics in their district. 

They should also become acquainted in a 
friendly spirit with well-meaning and inquir- 
ing non-Catholics, should offer to introduce 



226 Social Organization in Parishes 

them to the pastor, and when they are in search 
of religious instruction should give them Cath- 
olic books and pamphlets and in every way en- 
courage them to investigate the true faith. 

PARTICULAR NEEDS 

Where the head of the family is out of em- 
ployment they should interest themselves in 
getting him work; should bring cases of desti- 
tution and need to the attention of the St. Vin- 
cent de Paul Society or the Parish Aid Section. 
They should be on the lookout for lonely new- 
comers to the parish, and should introduce them 
to the Sodalists or to some other members of 
the parish, and bring them into good Catholic 
companionship. In some cases it has been 
found helpful to the Parish Welfare Workers 
to have an assistant in each block who will point 
out to them special cases or occasions for work. 
These welfare workers also take with them 
bundles of Catholic literature, and distribute it 
where there is the greater need. 

RECORD CARDS 

To meet the special needs of certain families 
or individuals who require extra attention it 
is well to keep special cards called the Bad 
Record Cards. These cards may be kept in a 



For the Help of the Neighbor 227 

loose-leaf book by the pastor or by the presi- 
dent of the Section, and duplicates given out 
to the workers. On these cards is reported the 
name and address, the members of the family, 
the income, the assistance needed, the religious 
condition, the remarks of the worker to whom 
the case is assigned, his name and the date, and 
the report made. Two copies of this card may 
be given to the worker, one for a rough copy to 
be filled in as the information is gathered, and 
the other for a clean copy to be handed to the 
pastor and filed for reference. 

THE PRESIDENT 

It has been found in practice that the presi- 
dent of the Welfare Section had better not have 
charge of a district. He should be able to give 
all his spare time to overseeing, encouraging 
the workers, systematizing the work, arranging 
for and presiding at the meetings, and taking 
care of the management in general. The 
meetings of the Section should be held once a 
month, when the reports of the captains will be 
handed in and the work planned for the coming 
month. The meeting may be made very in- 
formal, the president calhng in turn on each 
captain to give an account of his district. If 
nothing .of note has occurred, the captain may 



228 Social Organization in Parishes 

merely rise and remark, "Nothing new to re- 
port." If there is any special point to be em- 
phasized, or some new need to be met, he will 
briefly state it to the Section. A discussion 
may then ensue or the president may then pass 
on to the report from the next district. The 
pastor should be present and take note of any 
remarks made or reports offered which call for 
special action on his part. He may also ask 
any captain for a report on any special case, 
or suggest work that particularly needs to be 
attended to. 

Where the parish is a small one this Welfare 
Section may take to itself the activities of many 
other Sections hereafter to be described. 
Where it is large, and the work is complicated, 
it may be well for the welfare workers to hand 
on to the other Sections details which they 
themselves may not be able properly to attend 
to. The expenses of this Section will be small, 
and they may be met by contributions from 
members or from the general fund of the So- 
dality, or in any other way that the Director 
and the officers agree on. 

THE CHURCH BUILDING SECTION 

It will be the purpose of this Section to as- 
sist the pastor in collecting funds for the 



For the Help of the Neighbor 229 

church and for the school, or providing any 
other needed improvements in the parish. This 
task, though often a disagreeable one, is indeed 
a work of piety and true devotion. To provide 
the buildings requisite for the worship of God 
and for giving children a Christian education is 
a most meritorious work, particularly pleasing 
to the Holy Mother when done in her honor. 
But the means used should be dignified and fit- 
ting, and in so pious a work Sodalists should 
avoid every appearance of pettiness or nag- 
ging. 

CHOOSING THE MEMBERS 

The members of the Church Building Sec- 
tion should, therefore, be chosen from the most 
prudent, representative, and fervent members 
of the Sodality. One of the best ways for 
them to proceed is to hold a meeting, and hav- 
ing learned the amount to be collected, esti- 
mate according to the best of their ability the 
proportion which each family in the parish 
should contribute and the length of time which 
should reasonably be allowed for payment. 
After this has been done members of the Sec- 
tion should call upon all Catholic families in 
the parish and lay before them in an earnest 
and dignified way the need of the work, the cost 



230 Social Organization in Parishes 

of the improvements proposed, and the benefits 
which will result. They should then make a 
straightforward appeal to the head of the fam- 
ily to pledge himself to a proportionate con- 
tribution, suggesting the amount previously de- 
termined upon by the committee, and asking 
him to state frankly whether this is excessive 
or whether he feels that he should contribute 
more. In this way a pledge may be obtained, 
signed by the head of the family, to make peri- 
odic contributions until the sum is paid. These 
pledges are fairly good assurances of the 
amount desired, as few parishioners will care 
to go back on their written promise. 

The secretary of the Section should then send 
out by mail at the appointed time a courteous 
note, reminding the promisers that another pay- 
ment is due and requesting a prompt remit- 
tance. Care should be taken to conduct this 
work very methodically. It will help to suc- 
cess in the canvass if the pastor will preach 
upon the subject of contributing to the support 
of the Church. His sermon will, of course, be 
full of gentleness and Christian goodness, and 
will dwell strongly on the holy character of the 
work, on the supernatural motives for giving, 
and praise the generosity of those who con- 
tribute freely and according to their means. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 231 

THE RIGHT WAY 

It seems that such amusements as fairs, pic- 
nics, sociables, euchres, and so on, should not 
be used primarily to obtain money, except in 
ease of necessity. They may be excellent in 
their way, and they help to promote Christian 
sociability, but our Catholic people should be 
got accustomed to contribute voluntarily, 
methodically, and generously to the support of 
their church as they do to the support of their 
family and of the state. They surely should 
not have to be amused and teased into bearing 
their due share of the upkeep of God's temple 
and the support of His ministers. Of course, 
where no other means will serve, these things 
may have to be resorted to, but the object of 
Director and of Sodalist should be to train the 
people to contribute willingly and generously 
to the needs and uses of Holy Church. 

THE CATECHETICAL SECTION 

The members of this Section will make it 
their duty to assist in the catechetical instruc- 
tion of those in the parish who especially need 
to know more of their faith. They will in par- 
ticular assist the pastor in the regular catechism 
classes for children, and help to instruct adults 



232 Social Organization in Parishes 

who have not sufficient knowledge of their holy 
religion. The members of this Section should 
in particular attend to the needs of the Cath- 
olic children in public schools, whom they may 
gather into instruction classes after school 
hours, using for the purpose the public school 
room where permitted, or an adjacent hall, or 
the parish school building. 

The names of the children can be obtained 
from the Catholic public school teachers. If 
care be taken to avoid the appearance of pro- 
selytizing this work cannot reasonably be ob- 
jected to by the officials of the public school. 

CATHOLIC INSTRUCTION LEAGUES 

In some of the large cities an organization 
has already been set afoot to conduct catecheti- 
cal work in a systematic way. The Catholic 
Instruction League of Chicago, the Chapter 
Theta Pi Alpha of New York City, and other 
organizations should be applied to by those who 
wish to help on the work in these places. 
Where the work must be done independently 
it will always be helpful to obtain the coopera- 
tion and advice of as many Catholic teachers in 
the public schools as can be interested in the 
work. Their knowledge of the children will 
help greatly to success. (See "Stopping the 



For the Help of the Neighbor 233 

Leakage," in the queen's work, Vol. I, No. 
2; "The Chapter Theta Pi Alpha of New 
York," ibid. No. 5; "Catechetical Work in 
Cleveland," ibid. Vol. II, No. 4 — and 
passim.) 

SPECIAL NEEDS 

Particular care should be given to preparing 
the children for first communion and confirma- 
tion, and special classes should be organized 
for this purpose. It will be well, however, 
wherever possible, to continue the instruction 
of the children even after their first commun- 
ion, until they are thoroughly grounded in the 
elements of their Catholic Faith. An effort 
should be made in these classes to interest the 
children in Catholic books ; they should be sup- 
plied with interesting Catholic reading and ac- 
customed to read Catholic publications. 

The second class of whom the Catechetical 
Section should take a special care are those con- 
verts to the Faith who have not been sufficiently 
grounded in their Holy Religion. It is a 
great charity to help on the further instruction 
of converts, either by regular classes or by pri- 
vate lessons. 

Another activity of the Catechetical Section 
may well be the furnishing of Catholic instruc- 



234 Social Organization in Parishes 

tion to grown-up men and women of the immi- 
grant classes who are ignorant of their Faith. 
This is a matter which requires great tact and 
human kindness. The best way will often be 
to begin classes in English and citizenship, 
preferably in the evening, to which these grown 
folk can be invited. In these classes the men 
may be instructed in the elements of the Eng- 
lish language and simple commercial law, such 
as is used in ordinary business transactions, and 
will be directed how to obtain their naturaliza- 
tion papers. In this way a number may be at- 
tracted to the night classes, and after their good 
will has been gained they may easily be inter- 
ested in an extra half -hour of catechetical in- 
struction, in which special stress should be laid 
upon Catholic principles, and simple but effec- 
tive answers given to some of the chief fallacies 
of the day, such as socialism, materialism, 
atheism and so on. The graduating classes of 
Catholic colleges can help in this work. 

THE PARISH SCHOOL-AID SECTION 

The members of this section (usually in the 
Young Ladies' Sodality) volunteer to help the 
Sisters in the work of the parish school. They 
may act as truant officers, visiting the homes 



For the Help of the Neighbor 235 

of children who are absent to find out the cause, 
may give additional instructions in certain 
branches to backward children, visit the sick 
pupils, help to organize school entertainments, 
arrange for outings and picnics, and perform 
similar services. 

A very welcome activity in some parishes 
where the children find difiiculty in securing 
the proper sort of lunch is for the members of 
this section to maintain a lunch counter for the 
children, providing food at cost. Where this 
is done, it is sometimes necessary to employ a 
cook to take care of the lunch department. 
The prices charged for food should be sufiicient 
to pay expenses including the hire of the cook 
unless the Sodalists can raise a fund to meet 
the deficit. 

THE PARISH HOUSEKEEPERS 

In large parishes it has been found useful to 
have a section of parish housekeepers, mothers 
of families in the parish who can give some part 
of their time to looking after what may be 
called the housekeeping details of the church. 
They see that the church is kept clean, well 
aired, and neat, take care of the furniture and 
furnishings, provide needed repairs, and in gen- 



236 Social Organization in Parishes 

eral look after the material beauty and comfort 
of the church just as they would that of their 
own homes. 

THE HANDIWORK SECTION 

The members of this section, usually boys 
and girls of the Sodality, take up some sort of 
handiwork for the benefit of the church. The 
girls can sew, mend, make needed articles, etc. 
The boys, when they are skillful enough, do 
simple mending about the church, make light 
repairs, and use their skill in carpentering or 
manual work of any kind to help the pastor 
when he wishes it. 

SECTION FOR CLASSES IN COOKING, SEWING, 
CARPENTERING, MANyAL TRAINING, ETC. 

It is sometimes found useful in parishes 
where there are many poor children to conduct 
classes in the above-mentioned and similar 
branches. Volunteers to teach these classes 
may be called for from the various Sodalities, 
and with a little planning and system it is pos- 
sible to arrange matters so that no very great 
burden will fall on any individual. The plan 
of the classes should be made very definite and 
practical, so that every teacher can take up at 
any time the work that has been conducted by 



For the Help of the Neighbor 237 

another, by referring to the schedule. In this 
way volunteers can give one night a week or 
two nights a week to the work, and by obtain- 
ing a number who are willing to take short peri- 
ods the classes can be kept continuously going 
without imposing long hours or continued serv- 
ice on any individual teacher. 

FRIENDLY VISITORS' SECTION 

Where the parish is very large and the need 
of such work is notable it may be well to have 
a Section who volunteer for the special work of 
Friendly Visitors, going about to see those who 
are in special need or trouble of any kind, and 
doing what they can to help and cheer them. 
It requires a special tact and prudence for such 
work, and it should be entrusted only to the 
more mature, particularly in the poor districts 
and for cases that have not already been in- 
vestigated. 

travelers' aid section 

A great movement is in progress to take care 
of unescorted travelers, especially young girls 
going from place to place. This work is well 
organized and financed, and travelers' aids are 
maintained in the depots of most of the large 
cities, women attendants being employed. 



238 Social Organization in Parishes 

wearing a badge and ready to help any traveler 
by giving directions, information, and advice, 
but particularly watchful over the interests of 
young girls who are traveling alone. The 
work is an excellent one and well worthy of 
being cooperated with by the Sodalities ; and a 
section may be established the members of 
which can get in touch with the Travelers' Aid 
Association in the city and find out what par- 
ticular volunteer service is needed. They may 
also prepare a list of approved boarding houses 
and in other ways be ready to help unbe- 
friended travelers. 

SECTION FOR A DAY NURSERY 

The need of day nurseries in crowded dis- 
tricts where mothers who go to work have no 
place to leave their children is becoming more 
and more widely known, and not a few day 
nurseries have been begun under Catholic aus- 
pices. In large city Sodalities such work is 
well within the reach of the Sodalists, and a 
Section may be established to found and con- 
duct such a day nursery for the mothers of the 
parish. The work gives opportunities for 
spiritual help as well. The children may be 
taught catechism during the day, and the moth- 
ers may be conciliated and gotten in touch with 



For the Help of the Neighbor 239 

through the interest and care shown their chil- 
dren. It is quite easy to obtain from any h- 
brary books on the conduct of day nurseries, 
and, of course, it is necessary to have at least 
one skilled and experienced superintendent in 
charge of the work. The day nursery section 
will find that its chief work consists in financing 
the undertaking and acting as auxiliaries of the 
work of the paid employees. 

SECTION FOE IMMIGRANTS' CLASSES 

There is a very great need, particularly in 
large centers of population, of classes for 
grown-up immigrants to teach them English, 
commercial law, commercial customs, and to 
give them much-needed instruction in their 
Faith. The Commissioner of Education es- 
timates that there are in this country two mil- 
lion five hundred thousand immigrants who 
cannot speak the English language. Their 
condition is very trying, ignorant as they are 
of the language and the laws and forced to do 
the heaviest and poorest paid labor because 
they are unfit for any other occupation. These 
men and women are often very anxious to learn 
the language and customs of the country, and 
it is true charity to organize classes for them 
to which they can come in the evening for the 



240 Social Organization in Parishes 

needful studies and instructions. In many 
cities such classes have been begun and are be- 
ing conducted by volunteer workers. Mem- 
bers of the Young Ladies' and Married 
Women's Sodalities may volunteer to teach the 
women; and the young men and married men 
maj^ undertake the classes for the men. The 
widespread movement for better citizenship 
among the immigrants is being promoted by 
the Government of the United States, and in- 
structions, suggestions, and encouragement 
may be had from the governmental bureau as 
well as from the citizenship bureau of the Na- 
tional Catholic Welfare Council. In connec- 
tion with the classes for women immigrants, it 
is an excellent plan to have some instructions in 
home making, cooking, hygiene, the care of 
children, and similar subjects, so that these 
mothers of families may adapt themselves to 
the conditions of this new land and make their 
dwelling places attractive enough to keep their 
sons and husbands from the street. Besides 
catechetical teaching in these classes, it is well 
to give some instruction on current questions, 
and to explain the fallacies of socialism, ma- 
terialism and other false doctrines propagated 
among the workers, giving also the sound Cath- 
olic viewpoint. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 241 

THE POOR-AID SECTION 

Though in many places the Society of St. 
Vincent de Paul is in charge of the charitable 
work of the parish, still a great deal of very 
valuable help may be rendered by Sections of 
the Sodalists. Thus the boys' and girls' So- 
dalities, through their Poor- Aid Section, may 
collect old clothing, school books for poor chil- 
dren, furniture that has been put aside and is 
perhaps stored in the attic, and similar articles 
of use to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 
caring for the poor. The Young Men's and 
Young Women's Sodalities may obtain con- 
tributions from their members for the help of 
the poor, have entertainments, the proceeds of 
which will be used for charity, act as auxiliaries 
to the pastor in visiting special cases of their 
own sex and age, etc. The Married Men's and 
Married Women's Sodalities can take a still 
larger share in this work, reporting cases of 
destitution, looking out for poor children, get- 
ting employment for those out of work, and in 
other ways helping the pastor in his care for the 
poor. Though in a well-organized parish the 
Parish Welfare Section does much of this 
work, still, where the need is considerable, and 
the field large, it is sometimes well to have a 



242 Social Organization in Parishes 

special group of volunteers who will take par- 
ticular cases and thus supplement the work of 
the St. Vincent de Paul and of the Parish Wel- 
fare Sections. 

SECTION FOR BUSINESS ADVICE 

The members of this section (usually from 
the Young Men's and Married Men's Sodali- 
ties) will be on hand at certain hours of the 
week to give business advice to the poor, to wid- 
ows, and others who are in need of counsel. 
They should be carefully chosen and should 
be successful business men, prudent and com- 
petent. The}^ may take turns in being on duty 
at the appointed hour of the week, and their 
advice should, of course, be given gratis and 
without personal interest for the benefit of the 
needy who apply to them for counsel and in- 
formation. 

SECTION ON LAW AND MEDICINE 

This section should be made up of experi- 
enced physicians and lawyers who will volun- 
teer to give advice gratis to the poor at certain 
hours of the week or month. In large crowded 
parishes where there are a great many very 
poor people a section of this kind may be ex- 
tremely welcome. If the members are on hand 



For the Help of the Neighbor 243 

at a certain time which will become known and 
remembered, those who are in distress and need 
will come to seek advice from their Catholic 
fellow parishioners when they would perhaps 
hesitate to go to any public clinic or office. 
This is an activity that has been very success- 
fully carried on by some of the large Sodalities 
for men. 

THE BOY scouts'' SECTION 

Most of our readers will be familiar with the 
remarkable progress of the movement for Boy 
Scouts. In its elements this work is very 
simple. It is not military in character, but it 
seeks to systematize and train the natural in- 
stincts of the boy for open-air life, exercise, 
play, and work. Under the guidance of a 
scoutmaster, who is a young man of some train- 
ing and experience in the work of the Boy 
Scouts, the boys are taught to take care of 
themselves in the woods, build camp fires, swim, 
run, and so forth, and are given credit for each 
achievement. The movement is an excellent 
one in itself and helps to solve the problem of 
keeping boys out of dangerous gangs and bad 
companionships, by appealing to the very clan 
spirit which sometimes prompts them to form 
lawless groups. But it is essential that Cath- 



244 Social Organization in Parishes 

olic troops of Boy Scouts should be formed for 
Catholic boys, where they will be in Catholic 
companionship and under Catholic guidance. 
It is useless to complain of our boys joining the 
Boy Scouts unless we provide a substitute in 
Catholic Boy Scout troops where they will find 
everything that the other troops offer with the 
additional safeguard of Catholic influence. 
Hence a Section in the Young Men's Sodality 
to promote and organize Boy Scout troops for 
Catholic boys is a very happy activity. The 
Boy Scout troops themselves may be made up 
from among boy Sodalists, and it is very easy 
to make supernatural the very fine natural 
principles inculcated in Boy Scout training. 
Thus, for example, a good Scout is supposed 
to do an act of kindness to some one every day. 
How easy to instruct him to make the motive 
for this act of kindness the love of God! He 
is supposed to be clean, helpful, and competent. 
With the addition of a supernatural motive this 
lends itself very excellently to Catholic train- 
ing, etc., etc. It is a good plan to have a So- 
dality in every Boy Scout Troop. 

THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS' SECTION 

A movement has been begun among the girls 
of the country which is meant to parallel the 



For the Help of the Neighbor 245 

activities of the Boy Scouts. In reading the 
hterature of the Campfire Girl movement, how- 
ever, one finds that the plan and scope of this 
association is not near so commendable as that 
of the Boy Scouts. A great deal of senti- 
mental and naturalistic symbolism is inter- 
woven with the activities of the Campfire Girls, 
and there seems to be danger that the girls who 
come under the influence of this association 
may get ideas of a strongly naturalistic kind 
which are by no means favorable to the true 
Catholic spirit. 

It is very desirable that a Catholic organiza- 
tion for girls, embodying all the good features 
of the Campfire Girls — the open-air spirit, the 
spirit of helpfulness, companionship and kind- 
ness, and the cultivation of handicraft and use- 
ful accomplishments — be organized with a su- 
pernatural and religious motive underlying all 
its activities. In such an organization the 
vapid and naturalistic symbolism of the Camp- 
fire Girls, with its rather pagan connotation 
and its Indian symbolism, would be replaced 
by a symbolism based on Christian principles 
and full of Catholic fervor. This would be a 
very desirable activity for some of our more 
mature women Sodalists. The poor girls es- 
pecially, in crowded districts of the cities. 



246 Social Organization in Parishes 

would profit very much from an association of 
this kind, which would take them out to the 
country, teach them many useful and necessary 
accomplishments, and bring them into contact 
with cultured Catholic women. Such a troop 
could be made an activity of the Girls' Sodal- 
ity, a necessary condition of membership in the 
Catholic Girls' Association being that one 
should qualify as a member of the SodaUty. 

THE LONELY CHILD SECTION 

Where there are very many members in the 
Sodality so that volunteers can be spared for 
a great many activities the Section for the help 
of lonely children will appeal to some of the 
Sodalists. The idea of this Section is to visit 
and entertain the Catholic children in orphan- 
ages and public institutions. Many of these 
little ones have no special friends in the world. 
In fact, they are not known to any one outside 
of the walls of the institution where they are 
kept. Public orphanages and even reform 
schools have sometimes a number of Catholic 
inmates. Members of the Lonely Child Sec- 
tion will visit these little ones, choose out some 
particular child to befriend, go to see the child 
from time to time and bring it little presents, 
so that the little one will have some one especial 



For the Help of the Neighbor 247 

friend whom it can look forward to seeing and 
from whom it will receive individual . kind- 
nesses. It is rather sad for a child to pass its 
whole period in such an institution without re- 
ceiving from any one a single visit intended 
for itself alone, feeling that there is not a soul 
in the whole wide world whom it can call its 
own friend. 

THE CATHOLIC LITERATURE SECTION 

This is a work of almost universal applica- 
tion, and a section of this kind can be begun in 
every Sodality under nearly all conditions. 
However, the work of large city Sodalities must 
necessarily differ from that of the rural dis- 
tricts, and boys and girls can render certain 
services to Catholic literature which are differ- 
ent from those to be expected from grown men 
and women. We shall therefore divide the 
activities of this Section according to the vari- 
ous classes of people who may be expected to 
engage in it. 

THE CATHOLIC LITERATURE SECTION IN 
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES 

It is of immense importance that the pupils 
in the Catholic schools should be taught at once 
to take an interest in and help on the cause of 



248 Social Organization in Parishes 

Catholic literature. They should first of all 
be made acquainted with and interested in 
Catholic magazines and books. 

A good means for this purpose is the hold- 
ing of a Catholic Press Hour. Once a week 
an hour or three-quarters of an hour of class 
is to be given to the reading or study of Cath- 
olic magazines and periodicals. Various de- 
vices have been suggested to suit the needs of 
the different grades. In some classes the 
teacher reads extracts from the current Cath- 
olic periodicals and asks questions about them. 
In others the pupils themselves give short ac- 
counts of articles that have been assigned them. 
In others still, a brief time is spent by the stu- 
dents in looking through the Catholic maga- 
zines, and they are then called on to give in 
their own words the articles and passages which 
have most impressed and interested them. 
Sometimes papers may be read by the pupils, 
prepared beforehand ; at other times a short de- 
bate can be held on some article or subject 
taken from one of the current Catholic periodi- 
cals. All these things serve to interest the 
children in Catholic literature and make them 
better acquainted with it; so that when they 
leave school they will be inclined to keep up 
their interest in Catholic literature. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 249 

Then, too, the pupils in Catholic schools can 
be of great help in circulating Catholic maga- 
zines and papers. They may be encouraged 
to bring to school all the Catholic periodicals 
they can obtain from their parents and friends, 
sort them into bundles with a proportionate 
number of each issue in each parcel, and take 
them out to the Catholic hospitals or to public 
hospitals or institutions to be read by the Cath- 
olic inmates. 

Another activity for schools is to obtain the 
addresses of lonely Catholics in out-of-the-way 
places and mail them copies of Catholic papers 
and magazines. These addresses may be had 
from the International Catholic Truth Society, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

THE CATHOLIC LITERATURE SECTION IN RURAL 

PARISHES 

In rural Sodalities the Catholic literature 
committee may maintain a circulating library 
of Catholic books. The secretary of the sec- 
tion will collect funds to buy Catholic books 
which promise to be interesting to the members. 
She may then have these books on hand in the 
vestibule of the church after the Sunday Mass, 
and lend them to members of the Sodality, tak- 
ing down their name and address, and caution- 



250 Social Organization in Parishes 

ing them to bring back the book within two 
weeks. A small fee may be paid by every one 
who takes out a book and the proceeds may be 
used to buy new volumes. If interesting 
books are purchased and an energetic secretary 
appointed this simple means will be effective in 
circulating a great many books. The borrow- 
ers can bring the books back on the ensuing 
Sunday and the secretary will then be there 
again to receive their books and lend them a 
new volume. 

A pamphlet rack in the country church is 
also sometimes effective, but it requires a good 
deal of canvassing and propaganda work by 
the Sodalists to get the members of the congre- 
gation interested in reading the pamphlets. 
Sometimes the best way is to get a number of 
copies of one very interesting pamphlet to be- 
gin with; to ask the pastor to speak specially 
of the pamphlet and urge every one to take a 
copy, and then to have the pamphlets on sale in 
the rack with a contribution box near by to re- 
ceive the price. After this pamphlet has been 
taken in quantities another attractive and ap- 
pealing pamphlet may be introduced in the 
same way, and by degrees the members of the 
congregation may be interested in and accus- 
tomed to taking pamphlets from the rack. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 251 

After that a larger assortment may be kept 
constantly in evidence. 

Some Sodalities have found it very effective 
to use part of the Sodality funds to buy new 
books and pamphlets and to distribute these 
books gratis to their members, every one who 
attends the Sodality meeting receiving each 
month a new book or pamphlet. By making 
arrangements to buy the books or pamphlets 
wholesale from the Catholic publishers, this can 
be done without any very great expense. In 
this way a Catholic library would be formed in 
every home of the parish. Another method is 
to get the Sodalists each to buy Catholic books 
and then pass them from hand to hand, the 
secretary taking care that the books go in order 
from one member to the other according to a 
regular list, until they have been in the posses- 
sion of every member of the Sodality and so 
by due rotation are returned to the hand of 
their original owner. Thus if there are twenty 
members of the Sodality, the first week each 
reads the book she has bought. The second 
week member No. 1 lends her book to member 
No. 2, and receives in return the loan of the 
book from member No. 20. The next time 
all the books move forward one more member; 
and so, in twenty meetings, all the Sodalists 



252 Social Organization in Parishes 

will have received all the books. The transfer 
may be conveniently effected after the Sunday 
Mass. 

Another way of conducting literature sec- 
tions in a rural district is to have meetings of 
little groups of Sodalists at the houses of vari- 
ous members, all the Sodalists within conven- 
ient radius coming to the house nearest them. 
At these little meetings Catholic books will be 
read and discussed by one or two of the mem- 
bers while the others sew or do some other 
work. Finally the members of the Literature 
Section may establish a Church Door Library. 

A CHURCH DOOR LIBRARY 

The plan of conducting a Church Door Li- 
brary is as follows: Obtain a select set of 
books, Cathohc books, which will appeal to a 
large circle of readers, such as those on ques- 
tions connected with the Faith, explanations 
of Catholic doctrine, books on current ques- 
tions, etc. These books may number from 
twenty to one hundred. Put an open bookcase 
in the vestibule of the church, in which these 
books will be exhibited. A sign over the book- 
case will read: 

"This is a Circulating Library. All you 
need do to borrow a book is to choose the book 



For the Help of the Neighbor 253 

you wish to read, take out the card inside the 
cover of the book, write your name and address 
on it, and also the date on which you borrowed 
the book, and then shp the card into the clip 
in place of the book. On returning the book 
(which should be done within two weeks) can- 
cel your name and address, replace the card in- 
side the cover of the book, and leave the book 
where you found it, dropping a contribution 
into the box for the upkeep of the library." 

A hbrarv like this needs only to be dusted 
and overhauled from time to time. Those who 
go in and out of the church will read the simple 
conditions on which they may borrow the books, 
and the very simplicity of the proceeding will 
encourage them to read. This plan has been 
found exceedingly successful, and we recom- 
mend it for trial to our American Sodalities, 
Besides these methods the ingenuitj^ of our So- 
dalists will suggest a number of other means 
of spreading Catholic literature in the rural dis- 
tricts, such as holding book talks where some 
members of the Sodality are delegated to read 
and give an account of an interesting Catholic 
book, securing subscriptions to Catholic mag- 
azines, etc. 

It is sometimes helpful in securing subscrip- 
tions to form groups of the members with two, 



254 Social Organization in Parishes 

three, or four in each group and to get a joint 
subscription from each group, each member 
contributing a fraction of the subscription 
price. The magazines are then subscribed for 
in the name of one member of the group, who 
acts as secretary and passes the magazine from 
one to the other till all in the group have read 
it. 

In large city parishes the foregoing activi- 
ties suggested for the rural districts will also be 
found practical, but, besides, a great many 
other works in behalf of Catholic literature may 
be undertaken. Quite often trained and com- 
petent teachers are to be found among the con- 
gregation, and with their help some interesting 
programs of study and practice in writing may 
be carried on. 

STUDY CLUBS AND CATHOLIC LITEEATURE 

Study clubs will be treated of more in de- 
tail in the chapter on academies, but it may be 
well to say a word here on reading circles and 
study clubs in Catholic literature. The meet- 
ings of these study clubs may be made very in- 
teresting by careful preparation and by vary- 
ing the program. The club may take up some 
special Catholic author for study and arrange 
two or three meetings to discuss his work. A 



For the Help of the Neighbor 255 

short biography of the author in question, a 
general review of his work, and then special 
talks taking up his writings one after another, 
will make an interesting program. On other 
occasions the Catholic writers of different eras 
may be treated together. 

Materials and plans for such meetings may 
be had from text books of Catholic literature, 
and Catholic teachers are especially competent 
to suggest and arrange these programs. 

Finally, the Catholic literature of other coun- 
tries may be read and studied, particularly 
where some one can be found whose previous 
study has quahfied him or her to lead in these 
fields. 

The principal object of these meetings 
should be to arouse interest and excite a desire 
to know more of the writings which are being 
discussed and studied. Very pleasant variety 
in the meetings of these study clubs may be 
introduced by what are known as book talks. 
Four to six members of the club are each as- 
signed a Catholic book of current interest. 
This they read carefully and prepare a ten or 
fifteen minute talk on the writer and the book, 
trying to condense into this time a good synop- 
sis of the book and such details as will stir up 
interest and the desire to read it. At the meet- 



256 Social Organization in Parishes 

ing these talks are given one after the other, and 
if possible copies of the book are at hand to 
lend to those who wish to read it. This pro- 
motes interest in Catholic literature and is an 
incentive to the hearers to widen their field of 
reading. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO CATHOLIC MAGAZINES 

It is very desirable that the Catholic litera- 
ture sections of the Sodality in large parishes 
take up systematically the work of getting 
every family to subscribe to one or more Cath- 
olic magazines. It is quite useless to talk fer- 
vently of Catholic literature and the need of 
supporting it if one neglects the single practical 
way in which Catholic periodical literature can 
be materially aided — that is by obtaining sub- 
scriptions. It is through their subscriptions 
that Catholic magazines exist and flourish. 
Hence every subscription gotten for them is a 
vote for their continuance and success. On 
the other hand, it is extremely difficult for mag- 
azines to obtain circulation in Catholic parishes 
except by the expensive and laborious means of 
sending paid agents from city to city to solicit 
subscriptions. If the people of the parish 
themselves would systematize this work and 
voluntarily subscribe for an adequate number 



For the Help of the Neighbor 257 

of copies of the Catholic magazines it would be 
quite easy for the magazines to make a special 
rate to the subscribers, and there would be ad- 
vantage both to the readers and to the magazine 
itself. 

THE CATHOLIC PRESS WEEK 

One good way to obtain subscriptions to 
Catholic magazines is to request the pastor to 
set aside one week toward the beginning of the 
year as Catholic Press Week, during which 
every one in the parish will be encouraged and 
asked to subscribe to some Catholic magazine 
or paper. On the Sunday beginning the week 
sermons should be given at all the Masses on 
the need of supporting Catholic literature in 
general and encouraging every individual in the 
parish to do his or her part by subscribing when 
approached to do so. Then the parish should 
be districted, and members of the Sodality lit- 
erature committee should systematically visit 
every family in the parish and persuade them 
to do what they can in taking Catholic papers 
and magazines. Sample copies may be ob- 
tained gratis from the magazines and papers, 
together with subscription blanks to be used in 
making the canvass. This is a particularly 
good plan for parishes which are out of the 



258 Social Organization in Parishes 

beaten track of magazine agents and where the 
regular representatives of the Catholic maga- 
zines will not come. 

BUYING CATHOLIC BOOKS 

Finally the members of some Sodalities have 
taken up the plan of pledging themselves in- 
dividually to buy a Catholic book every month. 
This they either add to their own library or give 
to the Sodality or to the public library or put in 
circulation in some other way. At the present 
time Catholic books are bought almost exclu- 
sively by priests and Sisters, who sometimes 
give them to the laity as presents. This is 
rather disgraceful from the standpoint of the 
laity. Good Catholic reading is a need of 
every home and to purchase it should be as 
much a part of the ordinary expenses of the 
home as to purchase food or any other neces- 
sity. To depend on the charity of priests and 
Sisters is unbecoming, surely. It will be the 
part of the Sodality committee to inculcate this 
sensible viewpoint and to encourage the pur- 
chase of Catholic books in every possible way. 
Here again, "Buy a book a month" would be a 
capital motto. Catholic reading supplements 
the work of the pulpit in cultivating Catholic 
thought and in outlining Catholic action. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 259 

GETTING CATHOLIC BOOKS INTO PUBLIC 
LIBRARIES 

Energetic steps should be taken by a com- 
mittee from the Catholic literature section to 
get Catholic books into public libraries and, 
more important still, to keep them in circula- 
tion after they have been introduced. The 
public libraries in every city are becoming more 
and more of a public utility and service. The 
librarian, realizing that he is a public servant, 
is anxious to meet actual needs in purchasing 
books for the library and to serve as large a 
part of the community as possible. If, there- 
fore, it is brought home to him that Catholic 
individuals really wish the purchase of Catholic 
books and will keep them in circulation when 
purchased he will be very willing to supply as 
many as there is a real demand for. It is 
scarcely just to induce the librarian to put large 
numbers of Catholic books on the shelves and 
then let them lie there without keeping them in 
circulation. The success of the library is 
judged at the end of the year by the number of 
volumes in circulation. Therefore, every time 
one takes a Catholic book from the library he 
offers another argument for the further in- 
crease of the library's stock of Catholic books. 



260 Social Organization in Parishes 

The members of this committee should first 
of all secure a list of good Catholic books from 
the pastor or the director of the Sodality or 
by writing to a Catholic magazine, (the 
queen's work will be glad to help.) They 
should then inquire whether these books are 
already in the public library, and how many of 
each. A request should then be made for the 
purchase of the books not already in the library 
or of a larger number of those volumes already 
included in the library but which should be on 
hand in greater quantities, together with the 
assurance that these books will be kept in active 
circulation. The Sodalists should then circu- 
late copies of this list, getting their friends to 
pledge themselves to take out at least one of 
these books every month, and trying to have as 
many people as possible make this pledge. 

For the first two or three months these prom- 
isers may be divided into bands, and a promoter 
put over every band, so that the ones who have 
made the promise may be asked whether they 
took out their book this month and be reminded 
in case they forgot. Copies of this list may be 
published in the church calendar or in the local 
Catholic paper, and other means can be used to 
promote the circulation of the books. 

When the librarian finds that this work is 



For the Help of the Neighbor 261 

being done systematically and that there is a 
real demand for the books purchased at the re- 
quest of the Sodality, they will be very willing 
to buy still more books, and perhaps in time 
may get out a special catalogue of the Catholic 
books in the public hbrary. 

A CATHOLIC PUBLIC LIBRARY 

A plan is being tried in St. Louis which may 
spread to other places. A large library was 
left by will by a Catholic layman to the Arch- 
diocese of St. Louis on condition that it should 
be kept for the use of the public. After main- 
taining it for a while as a separate Catholic 
public library it was determined by the arch- 
bishop to give it over to the management of the 
public library on condition that it should be 
kept separate and maintained and increased at 
the public expense. This is being done; the 
volumes are bound and kept in good condition 
at public cost ; new books are added by the pub- 
lic library ; and a paid librarian is maintained to 
take care of and circulate the books. In other 
localities it may be found better to keep the 
Catholic library separate, but to have it open 
to the public on payment of a small fee. Ex- 
perience has shown that a great many persons, 
Catholics and non-Catholics, will come to a dis- 



262 Social Organization in Parishes 

tinctively Catholic library for reading and in- 
formation when they would hardly go to the 
public library for the same books. 

THE SODALITY LIBRARY 

The maintenance of a good Sodality library 
for the benefit of the members has long been a 
feature of many parishes. Sometimes, how- 
ever, the books are put in an inconvenient place 
or the library is opened only at unhandy times, 
so that the books do not receive their due cir- 
culation. In the management of such a library 
the rules and regulations should be made with 
a view to encouraging the circulation of the 
bookstand making it as easy and as pleasant as 
possible for the readers to obtain them. There- 
fore the library should be open to every one 
who wishes to borrow books, Sodalists, parish- 
ioners, and others. The hours should be ar- 
ranged so as to be convenient to the greatest 
number of borrowers, and the idea should be to 
circulate the books as much as possible and to 
benefit as many people as is practicable rather 
than to multiply restrictions and keep the books 
in their cases as though they were curiosities 
instead of sources of Catholic thought and 
messengers of Catholic doctrine. If a library 
is made a public utility in this way it will be 



For the Help of the Neighbor 263 

much easier to obtain contributions to support 
it. Catholic Hterature has enough disadvan- 
tages to contend with without being hedged 
about by vexatious regulations. It is far bet- 
ter to. lose a few books every year through 
carelessness, rough handhng, or actual dishon- 
esty on the part of the borrowers than to keep 
the books entirely safe and likewise for the 
most part quite useless to the people. 

SCRIPTURE STUDY 

Our Holy Father, the Pope, has of late years 
urged Catholics more and more to study the 
Holy Scriptures and become familiar with the 
word of God. It is surprising how great an 
ignorance may exist even among fairly well- 
informed Catholics concerning this funda- 
mental document of our Faith, the biography 
of our Lord in the Old and New Testaments, 
and the source of deepest religious light and 
consolation. It is advisable, therefore, that 
special Sections be formed to study and to pro- 
mote the study of the Sacred Scriptures. Such 
a Section should be under the immediate guid- 
ance of the priest. The general suggestions 
given in the chapter on academies and study 
clubs will be applicable here, but the members 
of the Section should also try to interest and 



264 Social Organization in Parishes 

encourage others to study the Scriptures and 
should circulate, according to their means, 
copies of the New Testament. 

CHRIST-CHILD SECTION 

The work of sewing for poor children, mak- 
ing them happy at Christmas, providing clothes 
for children of poor parents, and in general 
looking out for the material welfare and hap- 
piness of little children of the poor, is the work 
of the Christ-Child Section. A large and 
flourishing society under this name has its 
headquarters at Washington, D. C, and by 
corresponding with the president suggestions 
and information may be obtained on work of 
this kind. While cooperating with the work 
of the Christ-Child Society it is not necessary to 
form a separate society, since a section of the 
Sodality can adequately accomplish all that 
will be needed. 

CORRESPONDENCE SECTION 

The members of this section will undertake 
to carry on correspondence with absent mem- 
bers of the Sodality, particularly when they are 
abroad in the Army or Navy or in other service 
of their country. They will also carry on cor- 
respondence with members of other Sodalities, 



For the Help of the Neighbor 265 

exchanging experiences and suggestions, and 
the most interesting letters received will be read 
by them at the general meeting of the Sodality. 
They will likewise forward to the queen's 
WORK interesting items and bits of information 
received through their correspondence. This 
activity may be made very interesting and 
profitable by those who have a talent and liking 
for letter writing, and it will tend very greatly 
to promote the intercommunication of Sodali- 
ties which is so much to be desired. 

The members of the correspondence section 
may write to the queen's work for sugges- 
tions as to what Sodalities to write to, stating 
clearly in their letter the nature and the mem- 
bership of their own Sodality and what sort of 
Sodahties they should most like to correspond 
with. It is, of course, advisable that each So- 
dality should correspond only with other So- 
dalities of the same character and class, age and 
sex, etc. 

In case there is some doubt as to how to be- 
gin with the work a letter may be sent out to 
the other parishes of the city, addressed, for 
example, to the Young Ladies' Sodality of each 
church, and asking a reply and beginning of a 
correspondence. The following form might be 
helpful: 



266 Social Organization in Parishes 

To the Secretary of the Young Ladies* Sodality of 

Church. 

Dear Friend: We have formed a Correspondence 
Section and are anxious to communicate with some mem- 
bers of your Sodality with a view to exchanging experi- 
ences and ideas of Sodality work. Will you please send 
us the address of some of your Sodalists who would be 
likely to take an interest in receiving letters from us and 
answering them? 

Yours sincerely, 
The Young Ladies* Sodality of 

This may be signed by the secretary of the 
Sodality, giving her address; and if a reply is 
not received after two or three weeks another 
letter in similar terms may be sent out until 
some responses are received. 

THE CHORAL SECTION 

It has sometimes been found very interesting 
and helpful to establish a Choral Section to 
promote the cultivation of singing in the par- 
ish. One aim of this section would be to intro- 
duce and keep up the very beautiful and an- 
cient custom of congregational singing, so 
much fallen into disuse in this country. Where 
congregational singing has been introduced it 
has frequently met with great success and been 
very welcome both to the people and the pastor 
as an aid to devotion. 

The members of the Choral Section will, 



For the Help of the Neighbor 267 

therefore, procure the necessary hymn books, 
arrange for song leaders in different parts of 
the church, who will sing out loud and strong 
and thus encourage others about them to join 
in the singing, hold rehearsals of the songs 
chosen, and give all the aid they can for the 
introduction of this most admirable practice. 
They will form a choral club to give concerts 
and help in the choir ; and perhaps they may be 
able in time to produce some oratorios or sacred 
concerts, which will both edify and entertain 
the congregation. Where these sections exist 
in several Sodalities they may very well hold 
joint meetings where fully organized oratorios 
may be sung and sacred concerts given for the 
benefit of the whole city. 

THE SANCTUARY SECTION 

The members of this section will help in the 
adornment of the sanctuary, sew for the altar, 
provide new vestments and altar furniture, 
look to the supplying of flowers for special oc- 
casions, the decorating of the May altar, and 
other sanctuary needs. While a separate sanc- 
tuary society exists in a number of places, this 
work may be very well made an activity of the 
Sodality, since a section of the Sodality can do 
everything which an independent society might 



268 Social Organization in Parishes 

do, and at the same time the members will re- 
ceive the added benefit of membership in the 
Sodality, their work will be consecrated to the 
Blessed Mother, and they will partake in the 
Sodality privileges and indulgences. 

mothers' club section 

There is a very acute need in many poor par- 
ishes of tactful and competent instructions to 
poor mothers on the care of their homes and 
their children. It is not so much poverty that 
makes many homes unattractive as ignorance 
of what is called domestic science — that is to 
say, of home management and hygiene, eco- 
nomical and tasteful cooking, and the thousand 
little arts which can make even a very simple 
and plain home comfortable and attractive. 

Many of the poor mothers in the slums of 
our great cities lack training in such things, and 
keep their house or the few rooms in which the 
family lives in a state of disorder, confusion, 
and squalor when they might make things rea- 
sonably pleasant and comfortable. The con- 
sequence is that the husband and sons and 
daughters finding their home almost unbear- 
able are much more prone to go out to cheap 
and dangerous places of amusement, to haunt 
the street corners, or, in the case of the men, to 



For the Help of the Neighbor 269 

spend their evenings in some club or cafe where 
they find the comparative comfort which they 
lack at home. It requires a good deal of tact 
and address to make these poor mothers realize 
the need of something better in their homes and 
to get them to take the suggestions given. 
The Sodalists who are interested in such work 
and competent to give instructions will do well 
to form a group of workers, pledging to give 
part of their time every week to visiting these 
poor mothers and interesting them in better 
homes. If the workers have some knowledge 
of hygiene and can teach the mothers to take 
care of their children they can do a great deal 
to check the infant mortality which is so ap- 
pallingly high in the crowded and unhealthy 
slums of cities. But with an ordinary knowl- 
edge of cooking, some taste in suggesting orna- 
mentation and arrangement of rooms, and a 
great deal of kindness, much can be done to 
make more pleasant and homelike the dwellings 
of the poor. 

THE CHRISTMAS CHEER SECTION 

In some Sodalities it is the custom to furnish 
each year at Christmas a certain number of 
Christmas baskets for poor families, to buy new 
clothing for children, and to give other Christ- 



270 Social Organization in Parishes 

mas cheer. To systematize this work and dis- 
tribute the gifts is the office of the Christmas 
Cheer Section, whose activities are, therefore, 
mostly confined to the season immediately pre- 
ceding the Christmas holidays. 

prisoners' aid section 

There are, of course, a great many Catholics 
in prisons, reformatories, and other penal in- 
stitutions, and in large city Sodalities it is some- 
times well to begin a Section for the special 
purpose of helping them. This may be done 
by providing good reading matter and sending 
it to the chaplain of the prison or to the warden 
for the use of the Catholic prisoners, by sup- 
plying small articles of devotion, prayer-books, 
scapulars, medals, and crucifixes for the prison- 
ers, or small religious pictures which they can 
keep in their cells, and in some instances by giv- 
ing entertainments to them at seasons like 
Christmas and Easter where permission for this 
purpose can be obtained. 

The more mature men and women can take 
up the apostolic work of visiting the prisoners, 
inducing them to go to confession and com- 
munion, giving them instructions in their re- 
ligion, and by influencing them for good in 
other ways. But perhaps the most needed ac- 



For the Help of the Neighbor 271 

tivity in behalf of prisoners is to make some 
provision for starting them on a straight course 
of life when their sentence is over and they first 
come out from detention. At this time the 
habitual criminal in particular is exposed to 
great danger of relapsing into his former habits 
and getting in with his old associates. Men 
and women just discharged from prison some- 
times find it exceedingly hard to get any honest 
employment. Providing them with occupa- 
tion, seeing to it that they have decent clothing 
and some funds to make a fresh start without 
depending on their former associates, and let- 
ting them feel that an interest is taken in them 
and that they are being looked after by their 
fellow Catholics will go a great way toward 
encouraging them to make a decent start and 
avoid the bad ways that led them into jail. 
There is a Catholic prison-aid association in 
Philadelphia, which has been practically suc- 
cessful in this work and from which sugges- 
tions and information can be obtained as to the 
best methods of helping Catholic prisoners. 



THE ATHLETICS SEGTION 

The activities of this Section will consist 
rather in organizing athletic activities for the 
parish in general than in inducing the Sodalists 



272 Social Organization in Parishes 

themselves to engage in athletics. Very often 
there is need of some help on the part of their 
elders to keep the boys interested and out of 
mischief through athletic sports. In poor 
neighborhoods in particular it is an excellent 
activity to obtain permission to use vacant lots 
for ball grounds and to organize a league, clear- 
ing up the lots and fitting them for use as dia- 
monds. The forming of scholastic leagues, the 
arranging of schedules of games between the 
different parishes and similar activities are 
within the scope of the athletic Section. Es- 
pecially among poor children in crowded dis- 
tricts it is often a great charity to help the 
youngsters organize their athletic events. In 
this way they can be gotten hold of and induced 
to enter the boys' Sodality, to join the Catholic 
boy scouts, etc. 

THE JUVENILE COURT SECTION 

In some places, particularly in large cities, 
there is great need for volunteer helpers in the 
work of the Juvenile Court. By calling upon 
the judge who is in charge of the Juvenile 
Court work, one can find out just what is being 
done in this regard and how many Catholic vol- 
unteers are at hand already and are needed to 
take charge of delinquent Catholic childi'en or 



For the Help of the Neighbor 273 

those who are brought to the Juvenile Court 
because they have been neglected by their par- 
ents or guardians. Very pitiful instances of 
need for Catholic volunteer work come up con- 
tinually in the experience of the Juvenile 
Courts, and the mature Catholic man or woman 
can do great service to the Church by assuming 
the care of one of these children, who, for the 
most part without any malice of their own, have 
fallen victims to bad circumstances and bad ex- 
ample or are neglected by their natural guard- 
ians. Even where there is no Juvenile Court 
in the locality the Sodalists can often be of help 
by volunteering to the regular court to take 
charge of Catholic children who come up for 
small offenses and who need some looking after. 
A talk with the Judge himself or with one of 
the officers of the court, particularly with the 
juvenile welfare officer, wherever there is such 
an official, will instruct one as to the opportuni- 
ties and methods of doing this work for chil- 
dren. 

THE SOCIABILITY SECTION 

Though the Parish Welfare Section works 
for sociability in some parishes it may be well to 
have a special Section whose members devote 
themselves to promoting sociability among the 



274i Social Organization in Parishes 

members of the parish and to welcoming new- 
comers and making them feel that they are a 
part of the life of the parish and are wanted in 
its activities. A good deal of tact and perse- 
verance is required in this work, and the mem- 
bers of the Section will have to find out for 
themselves how best to conduct it under the 
circumstances in the parish. Thus in some in- 
stances the sociability workers may divide the 
parish into convenient districts, each one taking 
the locality in which he or she lives and noticing 
newcomers, making a special effort to get in 
touch with them and introducing them to the 
pastor. They may also offer to be of help to 
those whom they see are strangers in the par- 
ish, to inform them as to the hours of Masses, 
invite them to join the Sodality or other parish 
activities, and offer to introduce them to some 
members of the parish. There are Catholic 
girls and young men who come to work in a city 
from country places who drift into the parish 
and have no friends or associates. They are 
especially benefited by such activities. 

Besides, it is the duty of the sociability work- 
ers to devise means to introduce the people of 
the parish to one another, particularly the 
young folks. The plague of mixed marriages, 
which is increasing among us and has ruinous 



For the Help of the Neighbor 275 

consequences on the faith of the children, can 
only be done away with by promoting more 
sociability among our people. Therefore the 
providing of entefrtainments to promote this 
sociability and the introducing of young peo- 
ple to one another will be a very effective part 
of the work of this Section. Where well- 
organized parish-welfare Sections exist their 
members will, as has been said, do much 
of this work; but in the department of pro- 
viding entertainments to promote sociabil- 
ity and of seeing that the Catholic young people 
meet one another the sociability workers will 
have a field largely their own. Of course a 
great deal both of tact and of perseverance are 
necessary in this work. To be discouraged 
over some rebuffs in the beginning would be 
unworthy and childish. 

THE HOME finders' SECTION 

This Section will seek out homes for or- 
phaned or abandoned children. Quite often 
cases come before the Juvenile Court of Cath- 
olic children who might very well be adopted 
into some family and receive a Catholic up- 
bringing, but who, if no one comes forward to 
offer to receive them, will be sent to public in- 
stitutions and perhaps lose their faith. On the 



276 Social Organization in Parishes 

other hand, there are a great number of good 
fervent Catholic women who, if they were 
properly persuaded, would be glad to receive 
at least one Catholic child into their homes and 
would find themselves very much benefited by 
having some one to care for and toward whom 
to exercise their charity. It is only required 
that some zealous Catholics systematically take 
up the work of finding out the Catholic women 
who would be willing to adopt a child, and 
then of seeking to get them in touch with some 
abandoned child whom they can take into their 
homes. Thus the activities of the home seek- 
ers will consist in being on the lookout for 
Catholic women who could adopt a child and 
tactfully suggesting to them the taking of a 
child into their homes and then looking about 
in orphanages and in the Juvenile Court for 
suitable Catholic children for adoption. This 
Section may often cooperate with the Catholic 
Charities Bureau where one exists. 

THE MISSION SECTION 

Every Sodality, no matter what its class and 
circumstances, should have a Section for the 
help of the missions, since at this special time 
there is such a pitiful need in Catholic mission 
fields. The funds formerly contributed by 



For the Help of the Neighbor 27T 

Europe have been in great measure cut off by 
the war, and we of the United States must 
come forward with generosity if the vast work 
of the missions is not to be crippled and even 
killed. A small contribution to the missions 
is fruitful in great results, since there are so 
many of the pagans eager to accept Catholic- 
ity. We urgently recommend, therefore, that 
all Sodalities form at least one Section for the 
aid of the missions. The activities of these 
Sections will be threefold; prayer, work, and 
study. The members will pray earnestly for 
the success of the missions, home and foreign, 
will study their needs and the means of helping 
them, and will work to raise funds and sup- 
plies in aid of the missions. A great deal of 
information is easily obtainable from the vari- 
ous magazines published in aid of the missions 
and from the mission page which is a regular 
feature of the queen's w^ork. Special pray- 
ers may be offered for the missions at the So- 
dality meetings, and the members may give an 
intention in their communions, Masses, and 
good works. The work for the missions is 
twofold: first, the raising of money; and sec- 
ond, the supplying of articles useful to the mis- 
sionaries in their labors. Both works are in 
dire need at the present time. 



278 Social Organization in Parishes 

SUPPLIES FOR THE MISSIONS 

Besides the contribution of money, the Mis- 
sion Section may help by sending supplies to 
the missions, such as vestments, altar linen, 
sacred vessels, and everything required for the 
Sacrifice of the Mass, and by furnishing such 
articles as the missionaries find themselves in 
need of, either for themselves or for their poor 
converts. It quite often happens that there 
is a famine in the district where the missionary 
is situated and he needs seeds for his people 
to enable them to commence again to raise a 
crop. Sometimes tools and agricultural im- 
plements are needed. Sometimes clothing and 
food are required by the new converts. By cor- 
responding with the missionary or by getting 
in touch with one of the missionary societies 
through THE queen's work the Mission Sec- 
tion may find out what is especially needed and 
will take pleasure in making the articles them- 
selves or purchasing them and forwarding 
them to the missionary. In Sodalities for 
children, special attention ought to be given 
to stirring up their fervor and generosity to 
ransom pagan babies by contributing five dol- 
lars to enable the Sisters to receive another 
child into the orphanage. It is well known 



For the Help of the Neighbor 279 

that in China there exists the inhuman prac- 
tice of abandoning children to die, when food 
is dear and the family numerous. These little 
ones are gathered up by the Sisters and by 
coolies sent out by them, and brought to the 
orphanage. A number of them die from the 
ill treatment they receive and the exposure, 
but others survive and are brought up Cath- 
ohcs, some of them becoming priests and Sis- 
ters, others forming Catholic families. No 
Catholic child should be content until he or she 
has rescued at least one of these unfortunate 
little ones by the simple means of contributing 
^Ye dollars for the reception of the child into 
the orphanage. Children should be encour- 
aged to earn and save so as to rescue a child 
with their own money — "their very own." 

THE SELF-DENIAL FUND 

For the raising of funds for the missions a 
very effective plan has been promoted in the 
pages of THE queen's work, called the Self- 
Denial Fund. Those who partake in the 
activities of the Self-Denial Fund promise 
to make little acts of self-denial, refrain- 
ing from time to time from some purchase 
which is not necessary and giving the amount 
thus saved to form a fund for the mis- 



280 Social Organization in Parishes 

sions. To walk instead of taking the street 
car, to refrain now and then from a cool- 
ing drink, from the purchase of confectionery 
or from some little indulgence in food, to give 
up buying some article which one wants, but 
which is not necessary, and to give the money 
thus saved to the missions — these are excellent 
means of swelling the Self -Denial Fund. We 
of the United States are perhaps the most ex- 
travagant people in the world. We spend mil- 
lions of dollars every year in useless and some- 
times harmful luxuries. If we could get our 
Catholic people to acquire the habit of occa- 
sional acts of self-denial and to give the pro- 
ceeds to the missions they would not only 
vastly help the work abroad, but would ac- 
tually be the better in their own personal health 
and happiness through this self-control. To 
collect the Self -Denial Fund a box is some- 
times put up in the rear of the church, marked 
"Self -Denial Fund for the Missions," and the 
treasurer of the section for the missions for- 
wards the money from time to time to the 
queen's work, marked ''For the Self -Denial 
Fund." It is then sent out to the missions. 

To encourage the Sodalists it is well to tell 
them of the vast good that a little money can 
do for the foreign missions. Thus for five 



For the Help of the Neighbor 281 

dollars another child can be taken into the 
orphanage and saved from paganism and 
brought up a Catholic. The five dollars will 
support it for a time until other generous con- 
tributions come in to continue its education. 
As is well known, those who contribute the sum 
of five dollars have the privilege of naming the 
child and being its godparent, if they so wish. 
These children are taught to pray in after 
years for the generous benefactor who made it 
possible to receive them into the orphanage. 
The support of one of these little ones in the 
orphanage is about twelve dollars a year. For 
about forty dollars a year one may pay the 
salary of a native catechist, a man or woman 
trained in teaching catechism, who goes about 
instructing the natives and preparing them for 
baptism. Sometimes such a catechist will pre- 
pare five or six hundred natives in one year. 
Another very much needed charity is the con- 
tributing of sixty dollars a year to support a 
native seminarist while he is preparing for the 
priesthood. The late war called many mission- 
aries home to fight in the trenches and some of 
them will never return to the missions. Hence 
there is an increasing need of a native clergy, 
and young men are being educated for the 
priesthood. Those who contribute to their 



282 Social Organization in Parishes 

support may expect that these young men will 
always remember their benefactors in the Holy 
Sacrifice of the Mass. 

ADOPTING A MISSION 

It is earnestly recommended to Sodalities in 
well-to-do parishes that they adopt some in- 
dividual mission, pledging themselves so far as 
their means allow to supply the missionary 
with whatever he needs for the conduct of his 
mission. To adopt a mission write to the 
queen's work to obtain the name and address 
of some missionary. Then let the secretary of 
the Mission Section write to him and offer to 
adopt his mission, asking him what is needed 
and promising to try to supply whatever he 
most urgently requires. In return the mis- 
sionary should be asked to give an account of 
the work and tell of the progress of his mission 
so that those who are helping may know just 
what good their efforts are doing and how 
many souls are being won to God through 
their generosity. In the same way a Catholic 
school may very well adopt a mission school, 
supplying the funds to pay the native teachers 
and discharging any incidental expense in the 
running of the school. Sometimes the chil- 
dren can send books and other articles which 



For the Help of the Neighbor 283 

they can spare for the use of the native school 
children. In order to begin this activity it is 
only necessary to write to a missionary who 
has a school and offer to adopt it and help in 
any way possible. Reports should be asked 
from the missionary of the progress of his 
school. These will help to encourage and sus- 
tain the interest of the Sodalists. 

HELPING THE SCHOOL FOR CATECHISTS 

One of the most necessary of all mission ac- 
tivities is the maintenance of schools for cate- 
chists, where intelligent natives are instructed 
in the teaching of catechism so that they in turn 
may go about the country imder the direction 
of the missionaries, teaching whole villages the 
Faith and preparing them for baptism. The 
expense of educating a catechist in one of these 
schools does not much exceed thirty or forty 
dollars a year, and it is obvious how great is 
the benefit which results, since one of these 
men or women who are skilled catechists can 
in their lifetime instruct thousands in the 
Faith and thus multiply the labor of the mis- 
sionary, who could, by himself, never teach all 
these people. A great authority on the for- 
eign missions recently wrote to us that of all 
activities in behalf of the missions the most 



284 Social Organization in Parishes 

necessary and fruitful is the support of the 
schools, since it is there that the young genera- 
tion of native Catholics is trained and prepared 
to spread the Faith. 

COLLECTING TINFOIL, ETC. 

Collecting salable articles and disposing of 
them for the benefit of the missions is a prac- 
tical way of swelling the Self -Denial Fimd. 
Bazaars in behalf of the missions, the articles 
for which are made by members of the Mission 
Section, and the holding of entertainments, the 
proceeds of which are given to the missions, are 
effective ways of gathering funds. Particu- 
larly popular of late has become the custom of 
collecting tinfoil. 

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES FOE THE MISSIONS 

On some missions, where the people are ac- 
quainted with the use of the English language, 
the Mission Section may send out books and 
magazines for the use of the missionaries. 
This is the case in the missions in British Hon- 
duras, in Jamaica, in English-speaking por- 
tions of Africa, in Japan, in some portions of 
China, etc. Before these things are sent, how- 
ever, inquiries should be made as to the useful- 
ness of the papers and magazines. The mis- 



For the Help of the Neighbor 285 

sionary should be asked just what he requires 
in this hne. 

HELPING THE HOME MISSIONS 

Though the need of the foreign missions is 
great, still our zealous Sodalists should also 
help the home missions, where the field is vaster 
than they know. Thus there are still in the 
United States no less than 100,000 pagan In- 
dians who have never received the Gospel. 
The needs of the Indian and negro missions 
should be well made known to our people. No 
one influence has proved so powerful for the 
help of the negro people, even from a natural 
standpoint, as their conversion to the Catholic 
Faith, and their increasing numbers and rising 
degree of intelligence make more and more 
imperative a great effort to bring them in 
touch with Catholic teachings. The general, 
approved agency for sending aid to our negro 
and Indian missions is the Board of Negro and 
Indian Missions. A collection is taken up 
every year in the United States for the work 
of this board and for the home missions in gen- 
eral, and the Mission Section should bestir it- 
self and see to it that generous contributions 
are made by the members of the congregation 
when this collection is at hand. 



286 Social Organization in Parishes 

CATECHETICAL SECTION 

In nearly every region of the country more 
activity is needed among the Catholic laity in 
the way of volunteering to teach catechism to 
neglected children and to those adults who for 
one reason or another lack instruction in the 
Faith and whom the priest cannot attend to. 
This catechetical work is a very ancient and 
traditional activity of the Sodality and was 
mentioned by our Holy Father Pope Benedict 
XV among the works especially proper to So- 
dalities. The members of the Catechetical 
Section will find it to their own great advan- 
tage to engage in this work. They will be en- 
abled to refresh their own knowledge of the 
Faith and increase it, since nothing helps us to 
learn a subject so thoroughly as to give in- 
structions to others. It will be well, where 
possible, for the members of the section to form 
a study class in Christian doctrine and with the 
help of the pastor or one of the assistants to 
inform themselves as to the best methods of 
catechetical instruction, acquire a supply of 
stories, incidents, and illustrations, and brush 
up their own knowledge of the catechism. 
They will thus be enabled to add variety and 
interest to their classes and insure success. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 287 

MAKING NEW VESTMENTS FROM OLD 

Some Socialists have found out a very prac- 
tical way of helping the missions. In almost 
every large city parish there are sets of vest- 
ments which are a bit too worn to use and yet 
too good to throw away. These are stowed 
away in some out-of-the-way place, perhaps 
forgotten. The tarnished gold braid and the 
worn places in the silk make them unfit for use 
in the Divine Service, but it really will take 
very little mending and patching to put these 
vestments into use again. A few dollars' 
worth of material and a little skillful treat- 
ment with a needle and the worn spots will be 
replaced by new ones and the tarnished braid 
pieced out until the vestment is quite present- 
able and would be received with delight by 
some struggling priest in the far-off missions. 

Here, then, is an excellent way for Sodalists 
who are quick with a needle, to help the foreign 
missions and even poor parishes in the out-of- 
the-way places in this country. Ask some of 
the city pastors to give you whatever vestments 
they no longer use, and renovate them and fit 
them for use for the altar. 

This same idea applies to any laid-by article 
of worship. There are old missals. With a 



288 Social Organization in Parishes 

little skillful treatment with transparent gum 
paper and a bit of glue they will be fit for 
years of service on some far-off altar. There 
are ciboria and chahces which in the hands of a 
jeweler would be fixed and polished so that 
they might once more hold the Most Blessed 
Sacrament with respect. Very often one may 
be at a loss as to where to send these things 
after they have been remodeled. Write to 
any one of the established mission societies 
and they will see to it that you get the address 
of some missionary who will be pleased to re- 
ceive the gift, and will pray for the donors. 

ACADEMIES 

The common rules of the Sodality in Article 
III, Section 14, declare that "It is quite in ac- 
cordance with the original plan of the Sodality 
of Our Lady to have in them, especially if they 
are Sodalities of students, one or more acad- 
emies for the young to practice themselves in 
scientific, literary, artistic, or economic exer- 
cises, to help them on in their studies or pro- 
fession, and to secure for them, under the di- 
rection of competent persons, correct views on 
questions connected with Catholic faith and 
morals." This suggestion opens up a fruitful 
field of activity for our American Sodalities. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 289 

There is an increasing need and desire among 
our young people for more information and 
for an opportunity to develop themselves in 
special lines of study, and this will increase as 
our people become more well-to-do and better 
educated. The academy in a Sodality offers 
indefinite possibilities for personal improve- 
ment on the part of the Sodalists. In all that 
we shall say hereafter we shall suppose the pru- 
dent advice and direction of the priest in 
charge of the Sodality or the academy. 

ACADEMIES FOR ALL 

Though the rule especially recommends 
these academies in Sodalities of students, they 
are proper to every Sodality where the mem- 
bers are mature enough to engage in the exer- 
cises recommended, and the plan of manage- 
ment may be modified to suit the circumstances 
of the members, while the plan of study can 
be endlessly varied so as to agree with local 
conditions and needs. Flourishing academies 
were a great feature of the life of Sodalities in 
olden times, and are still greatly successful in 
European Sodalities. We must not be behind 
in developing so timely a work. Rather we 
should take the lead in making these academies 
model§ of their kind. 



290 Social Organization in Parishes 

THE SUBJECTS FOR ACADEMIES 

The rule points out scientific, literary, artis- 
tic, or economic exercises as a proper field for 
academies. Science, in all its departments, of- 
fers an endless field for popular lectures. 
Those Sodalists who are especially trained in 
some branch of scientific work may guide the 
others in studies in this special line. The pop- 
ularization of scientific subjects, answers to 
apparent difficulties against religion in the field 
of science, illustrated lectures on scientific 
progress and achievement, description of spe- 
cial processes which may be illustrated with lan- 
tern slides, lectures on the geology of the coun- 
try or of special regions, talks on meteorology, 
physical geography, botany, the life history of 
animals and insects, will afford very interest- 
ing material, which will give the members of 
the academies some glimpse into the wonders 
of nature and into the power and wisdom of the 
Creator. These lectures may all be made more 
interesting by the use of a lantern, and slides 
may be procured quite easily from public li- 
braries, manufacturers of special articles, rail- 
roads, and similar sources which supply classi- 
fied series of slides for use with lectures. 

Literature, too, gives an endless scope for 



For the Help of the Neighbor 291 

popular lectures and study clubs among the 
Sodalists. The field naturally divides itself 
into the appreciation of existing literature and 
the production of original work by members 
of the academy. For the appreciation of 
Catholic literature and of the masterpieces of 
secular literature study clubs and academies 
may be held, the members of which will make 
special studies of designated works or of the 
whole works of assigned authors. These they 
will read to the academy and the reading will 
be followed by general discussion on the part 
of the members. From time to time special 
lecturers may be asked to come and give book 
talks and instructions to the members of the 
academy, so that they may be guided and stim- 
ulated in their study of literature. 

The work of those sections of the academy 
which will promote original composition by 
their members is of extreme importance nowa- 
days. Considering the general average of 
talent among our Catholic people and the num- 
bers who are gifted in writing, it is astonishing 
how few expert writers are developed amongst 
them. It should be the purpose of the prac- 
tical academies in literature to stimulate their 
members to use their talents. One plan is to 
have four or five appointed at each meeting of 



292 Social Organization in Parishes 

the academy to read original compositions in 
prose or verse, leaving them free either to write 
a story, an essay, or a poem. After the com- 
positions are read the members may give their 
appreciation of what has been done, and vol- 
unteers can be called for to provide the pro- 
gram for the next meeting. If none volunteer 
the president will appoint the five who are to 
be heard from next time. This informal plan 
has produced very good results. From time 
to time some Catholic writers of experience 
should be asked to speak to the members of the 
academy, and on that occasion the work of the 
members may be submitted for criticism and 
appreciation. Wherever possible the writings 
of the members should be submitted to Cath- 
olic periodicals for publication. They may be- 
gin by contributing to the local Catholic pa- 
pers, and should always have in view in their 
writings that they will publish when the op- 
portunity offers. In this way thej^ will have 
a definite and practical object in writing to 
give them interest and keep up their industry. 
This point is of very great practical impor- 
tance. 

It would be well for the members of these 
academies to take part in the special contests 
in poetry and prose which are continually be- 



For the Help of the Neighbor 293 

ing carried on in the pages of the queen's 
WORK. A good plan is to have every member 
of the academy prepare a composition, either 
a poem or a story, for the contest, and then get 
some experienced person to select the three or 
four best papers to be sent to the contest, the 
inferior ones being thus eliminated. They 
should also look out for other contests, even 
in secular magazines, and should from time to 
time prepare articles on Catholic subjects to 
be submitted to the secular press. It should 
be an object of these academies for literary 
practice to write as much as possible for actual 
publication, and at the end of the year reports 
should be drawn up showing how much of the 
work of the members has really appeared in 
print. Catholic weeklies and the daily press 
will offer a good field for contributions. 

ACADEMIES IN PHILOSOPHY 

The study of philosophy is becoming of 
greater and greater importance for educated 
Catholics, to meet the objections of non-Cath- 
olics and to answer reasonable questions about 
the Catholic viewpoint. Where in any way 
possible a priest well-versed in philosophy 
should be secured as moderator. Academies 
in philosophy may systematically cover some 



294 Social Organization in Parishes 

special branch such as ethics, psychology, on- 
tologj^, or logic, the subject being divided 
among the members and each one assigned to 
write a paper on an assigned special topic in 
order. This paper may be prepared by the 
use of systematic treatises and textbooks on 
Catholic philosophy, which may be obtained 
from the Sodality library. In other years the 
members may take up some special question of 
philosoj)liy or some particular false system 
such as materialism, and the papers may bear 
on this particular theme, each member of the 
academy taking some individual aspect of it 
or dealing with some special author. From 
time to time a prof essor of philosophy in one of 
the Catholic schools may be invited to lecture 
to the academy, or a debate may be had between 
members appointed for the purpose on some 
philosophical subject, giving variety to the ex- 
ercises. While these meetings of the academy 
are primarily for the benefit of the members, it 
should be borne in mind that the meetings may 
be open to the public as well, or else each mem- 
ber may be allowed to bring some friends, so 
as to give a wider circulation to the work of 
the academy, attract new members, and help 
those who are not actively engaged in the 
work. 



For the Help of the Neighbor 295 

THE ACADEMY OF HISTORY 

It is of increasing importance that educated 
Catholics should be well informed concerning 
the history of their own and of other countries, 
particularly with a view to the part played 
therein by Catholics, and so as to be able to 
answer difficulties and objections brought up 
against the Church. Hence an academy of 
history will do especially good service at this 
time. Its meetings may be graded according 
to the age and development of the members. 

A course in the philosophy of history is a 
valuable introduction to the study and will en- 
able the members of the academy later on to 
trace the influences and causes of events and 
to see the hand of Divine Providence shaping 
the destiny of nations. Some brief studies in 
leading historians, giving their general field, 
the plan of their works, their personal views 
and preconceptions so far as these color their 
history, and a brief explanation of difficulties 
arising in their works, or refutation of their 
attacks on the Church, will make another inter- 
esting course. Then papers may be prepared 
on the history of one's own country, with a 
special view to its Catholic side, so glorious in 
the United States and so little known even 



296 Social Organization in Parishes 

by educated Catholics. The history of the 
Church in the United States will be another 
interesting topic, and there is ample matter in 
the works of such historians as Shea and Grif- 
fin. The history of one's own city or state, the 
history of the Church in one's state or city, and 
studies in special local characters or events will 
give another very interesting series for the his- 
tory academy. 

Finally, there is the whole field of world his- 
tory with its marvelous inspiration and great 
educational influence, giving one the condensed 
experience of ages and helping one by the 
events of the past to understand the present 
and in some degree anticipate the future. 
Particular study should be given to the tradi- 
tions and history of the Church, to historic 
characters who are an inspiration to us, such as 
Charlemagne, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis of 
France, Garcia Moreno, Charles Carroll of 
Carrollton and Archbishop Carroll, etc. 

Such an academy may also take up the study 
of current history and trace out the present 
course of events in the Church in the United 
States, with sketches of living Catholic leaders. 
It is obvious how interesting these courses may 
be made and what great profit will come to the 
members of the academy, especially to those 



For the Help of the Neighbor 297 

who study up the subjects and prepare the pa- 
pers. Here, as in the other academies, there 
may be lectures or readings from time to time 
by persons not members of the academy, and 
the members may engage in debates and have 
special evenings for discussion to give variety 
and interest to the work. 

THE ACADEMY OF APOLOGETICS 

Apologetics is, of course, the science which 
shows the reasonableness and consistency of 
Christian doctrine and answers difficulties 
against it. The word has not the English 
sense of "apologetic." It rather means an an- 
swering and speaking to the objectors against 
Catholic doctrine. So there is no question in 
this academy of making apologies for Catholic 
doctrine, but rather of answering difficulties 
and explaining the reasonableness and consist- 
ency of the Faith. 

It is extremely to be desired that more Cath- 
olics should be able to present Catholic belief 
effectually to nonbelievers, clear up the diffi- 
culties of those outside the Church, explain to 
their friends and acquaintances points of 
Catholic belief or practice which come to 
special attention or are called in question by 
current events. An academy in apologetics 



298 Social Organization in Parishes 

would be an admirable training school for such 
defenders of the Faith. The papers read by 
the members of this academy and the discus- 
sions engaged in will turn upon points of Cath- 
olic doctrine with a view to presenting them 
clearly and answering difficulties concerning 
them. The grounds of belief, the authenticity 
and veracity of the Scriptures, the proofs of 
the divinity of the Church drawn from history 
and tradition, the proving power of miracles, 
and in particular the miracles of the New 
Testament, answers to objections against Cath- 
olic doctrines, correct explanation of misun- 
derstood points of Catholic teaching — such as 
the infallibility of the Pope, which is sometimes 
confounded with impeccability — the Catholic 
teaching concerning the relation of the Church 
and the State, and similar points may also be 
treated in these papers. It is advisable to 
have some trained theologian, preferably a 
priest, to preside over the meetings of this 
academy, and the Director will sometimes be 
able to make time for this purpose. 

THE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL STUDY 

Obviously the field of social work, the rem- 
edying of bad social conditions and the form- 
ing of organizations of workers to befriend and 



For the Help of the Neighbor 299 

help the poor and handicapped will be of ever- 
growing importance in the era after the war. 
Our Catholic people should be got to under- 
stand the social situation and make ready to 
take an intelligent and active part in meeting it. 
The great source of whatever strength socialism 
has acquired is that it professes to give a definite 
answer to a dreadful need, and it is only by 
bringing out the true remedies for this bad 
state of society that we shall ever be able to 
meet successfully these false teachings in so- 
cial science. 

The field of such an academy will be ample. 
The members should be careful to read and 
study approved authors on social work and 
modern conditions. They should become 
thoroughly familiar with the great encyclical 
of Leo XIII on the condition of the working 
classes, and should read and discuss the pamph- 
lets and brochures published in such quantities 
by the Catholic Truth Society of London and 
similar associations to give the Catholic view- 
point. In their meetings they may take up 
such questions of the day as the living wage, 
trade unions and combinations, the morality 
of strikes, etc. They may also study and re- 
fute the false social doctrines such as socialism, 
communism, anarchy. 



300 Social Organization in Parishes 

A constructive and active zeal should be the 
object of these study classes, not the mere ac- 
quiring of knowledge for empty protest against 
prevailing conditions. The members of the 
academy should always keep in mind that pro- 
testing alone will never achieve the work of the 
Church, that the Catholic Church is a construc- 
tive body, full of supernatural life for the help 
and salvation of the world, and that the mem- 
bers of the Church have, as a solemn duty, to 
carry out the principles of Christ in their daily 
life, and to help others, and particularly the 
working classes and the poor, to lead Christian 
lives. As Pope Leo points out in his great 
encyclical, the solution of all social problems 
is practical Christianity, brotherly love among 
the rich and poor. Constructive charity in all 
its aspects should likewise be especially dwelt 
on, and it should be pointed out that remedial 
charity, in so far as it consists of taking care 
of wrecks of humanity who have been ruined 
by the unjust treatment of their employers or 
by their own faults and vices which should have 
been corrected in their youth, is but a partial 
remedy, and that the greater charity is to save 
people from being ruined by guarding them in 
thek childhood, by insisting on proper working 
conditions, and by getting for all a fair chance 



For the Help of the Neighbor 301 

for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
While the chief purpose of these study clubs 
will be to ground the members thoroughly in 
the correct principles of sociology, to furnish 
them with sound Catholic doctrine and argu- 
ments on matters connected with social study 
and practice, and to acquaint them with the 
approved and tried methods of social work 
among the poor, they should familiarize them- 
selves with conditions in their own city by ac- 
tual work among the poor, in one of the sec- 
tions of the Sodality or with the St. Vincent 
de Paul or other charitable organizations. 
The members who engage in these actual ex- 
periences in social work should present to the 
academy carefully written and accurate re- 
ports of what they heard and saw in the course 
of their efforts. In this academy very inter- 
esting talks may be had from Catholics who 
have been long active in charitable enterprises, 
and the incidents and illustrations which they 
can draw from their experience will be of im- 
mense help to the members in vividly realizing 
the field of Catholic social effort. 

THE SECTION FOR ART AND ARCHITECTURE 

The study of art in all its branches will be a 
fruitful source of material. The history of 



302 Social Organization in Parishes 

Christian art, the hfe and works of individual 
masters, the story of great masterpieces, such 
as the Sistine Madonna, the Last Supper by 
Leonardo da Vinci, the Pieta of JNIichelangelo, 
and other landmarks of Christian art, the qual- 
ities of a good painting or statue, illustrated 
from photographs or reproductions of the or- 
iginal, the rules of taste in art, the rules of com- 
position, and the sources of artistic beauty — 
all these may be made subjects for lectures or 
series of lectures. In few departments of hu- 
man endeavor is the spirit of Cathohcity more 
sublimely set forth than in the great masters of 
painting and sculpture. To cultivate a cor- 
rect taste in such matters is part of the com- 
plete and rounded education of a Catholic. 



CHAPTER VII 
THE SODALITY UNIONS 

HOW UNDERTAKEN 

THE organization of a Union of Sodalities 
should generally be undertaken only with 
expert advice and assistance. It must also, 
of course, be preceded by the approval of the 
Bishop, and the promise of cooperation from 
some at least of the Sodality Directors. The 
problems involved are so extensive and the 
requisites for success so exacting that this work 
requires courage and perseverance of no mean 
order. The fruits, however, are excellent 
enough to justify all the effort required. A 
strong and fervent Sodalitj^ Union can have a 
powerful influence on the Sodalities of a whole 
city and be of extraordinary efficacy in keep- 
ing up the existing Sodalities, securing the 
formation of new ones, and enlisting the So- 
dalists in works of magnitude and importance 
beyond the power of any single Sodality to 
undertake. We shall here subjoin some brief 

303 



304 Social Organization in Parishes 

notes on the Unions, for the guidance of those 
who wish to undertake this work. 

THE RIGHT LEADERS 

Of first importance in organizing a Sodality 
Union after the approval of the Ordinary and 
the support of the Directors have been ob- 
tained, is the securing of the right leaders, men 
and women that is, who have the right power of 
initiative and organization, courage and per- 
severance to carry the work through. There 
always comes a crisis in the process of organiz- 
ing a Union of Sodalities when discourage- 
ment looms very dark on the horizon. Be- 
cause of the novelty of the work, the disinclina- 
tion of many persons to be stirred out of their 
rut of inaction, and the inertia that has to be 
overcome in individuals and in parishes, the 
first beginnings of a Union are fraught with 
difficulty. At such crises it is the exceptional 
man or woman who can carry on determinedly 
until the rough place is passed. The first step 
therefore is to make sure of some one, whether 
priest, layman or woman, who has the qualities 
necessary to guide and carry the Union 
through the perils of its infancy. Very un- 
promising beginnings have turned to success 
when there was the right leader for the Union, 



The Sodality Unions 305 

On the other hand, the most promising com- 
mencements have gone down quickly to failure 
for want of the right leader. 

PRELIMINARY PUBLICITY 

To secure the right publicity for the aims 
and advantages of a Union, it is well to dis- 
tribute to the directors of Sodalities and the 
officers leaflets explaining these aims and ad- 
vantages. The text of such a leaflet which has 
been very widely used in the organization of 
Sodality Unions is as follows : 

To understand the aims and advantages of a 
Union of Sodalities we must thoroughly un- 
derstand the Sodality itself. There is a mis- 
taken idea abroad that the Sodality is intended 
merely to promote some few devotional ex- 
^ ercises, weekly meetings and a monthly com- 

munion. Its scope is much broader. From 
its institution, 350 years ago^ the Sodality has 
sought not only to make its members zealous 
for their own personal holiness, but to make 
them active in the help of the neighbor and 
the defense of the Church, according to each 
one's state in life. 

The scope and purpose of the Sodality is au- 
thoritatively given in the first of the revised 
Sodality Rules of 1910. This rule says in 
effect: "The Sodality of Our Lady, an asso- 
ciation founded by the Society of Jesus and 
approved by the Holy See, is a religious body 
which aims at fostering in its members an ar- 



306 Social Organization in Parishes 

dent devotion^ reverence, and filial love toward 
the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through this de- 
votion and with the protection of so good a 
Mother it seeks to make the faithful gathered 
together under her name good Catholics, sin- 
cerely bent on sanctifying themselves each in 
his state of life and zealous, as far as their 
condition in life permits, to save and sanctify 
their neighbor and to defend the Church of 
Jesus Christ against the attacks of the 
wicked." Hence the broad field of work for 
personal holiness, the help of the neighbor, 
and the defense of the Church lies before the 
Sodalists. The Sodality is thus a school for 
thcLay Apostolate, an epitome of the fervent 
Christian life, encouraging all its members to 
an active share in the corporal and spiritual 
works of mercy according to each one's powers 
and opportunities, in honor of the Queen of 
Heaven. This is the mind of the Church con- 
cerning the Sodality. 

The extent and vast membership of the Sodality 
makes it all the more a mighty instrument for 
good. It exists all over the earth, and counts 
its members by millions. Here in America 
the Sodality numbers over half a million. 
Moreover, it unites all ages and classes, and 
both sexes, in holy brotherhood and active 
effort. The members of the Sodalities af- 
filiated to the Head Sodality at Rome — the 
Prima Primaria — enj oy many special spiritual 
advantages. 

Of late a great awakening among the Sodalists 
to their duties and the needs of the time has 
brought about a more widespread activity for 



The Sodality Unions 307 

good. In parishes, schools, and colleges the 
Sodalities are taking up the spiritual and cor- 
poral works of mercy, and working for the 
neighbor and the Church. By means of Sec- 
tions or committees of their members they are 
making a survey of the parish, organizing 
Parish Welfare Sections, helping the poor and 
the sick, distributing Catholic literature, as- 
sisting the missions, teaching catechism, look- 
ing after friendless boys and girls, promoting 
sociability among Catholics, assisting the par- 
ish schools, and in many other ways acting as 
a zealous lay auxiliary to their pastors. They 
also supply workers to other organizations 
and cooperate in their activities. 

The works of the Sodality are divided among 
the Boys' and Girls' Sodalities, who collect 
stamps for the missions, give entertainments 
to the poor and sick in hospitals, collect and 
distribute Catholic literature, and do other 
works suited to their age; and among the 
Young Men's, Young Women's, Married 
Men's, and Married Women's Sodalities, who 
divide among themselves all the other needed 
work of the parish not otherwise being at- 
tended to. Then, every month or two there 
is a general meeting of all the Sodalities of 
the parish, at which reports are read from all 
the Sections, and thus every one learns what 
the others are doing. An occasional social 
meeting makes all acquainted with one an- 
other. 

So much for the work of the Sodality in the 
parish. But general Catholic interests re- 
quire a Union of Sodalities to exert an influ- 



308 Social Organization in Parishes 

ence in wider fields of action. The 66th and 
68th sections of the Rules of 1910 recommend 
the formation of Sodality Unions and the 
holding of congresses to promote solid piety 
and work for souls. 

Sociability, cooperation, united action to pro- 
mote Catholic interests — these are confessedly 
the crying needs of the time. A moment's 
consideration will show that the parish is the 
logical center at which to commence this union 
and cooperation, and the Sodality a provi- 
dential means. The Sodality Union leaves 
each Sodality as free and independent as it 
was before. It brings the Sodalists together 
to arouse their zeal and interest in active work, 
but sends them back to their parish to work 
there under the guidance of their pastor. 
The officers of the Union are at the service of 
the Sodalities; the Union is their servant, not 
their master. 

Moreover, each Sodality and each parish has 
equal rights and equal voice in the Union. 
No single parish or institution dominates or 
takes control. The organization is as follows : 
The president and first vice president are 
elected at the first annual meeting. Then the 
president or prefect of each affiliated Sodality 
becomes ipso facto an associate vice president 
of the Union. The major officers of the So- 
dalities are ipso facto members of the Council, 
as also are the directors of the Sodalities. 

Besides these officers there are committees made 
up of one member from each Sodality which 
have charge of some special work; e.g. Par- 
ish School Aid, Catholic Literature, Public 



The Sodality Unions 309 

Morals, Catholic Missions,, Entertainment;, 
Membership, Parish Welfare, etc. These 
committees have separate meetings to discuss 
their work, and the members return to their 
own parishes and organize auxiliary commit- 
tees in the parish Sodalities to cooperate with 
the committees of the Union. 

Four times a year, on or about the 25th of 
March, the 21st of June, the 8th of September, 
and the 8tli of December, a city-wide demon- 
stration at one or several churches of the 
Union in honor of the Blessed Virgin is con- 
ducted by the Union, which all the Sodalists 
attend. These demonstrations are of both a 
religious and social nature and are held in ro- 
tation at all the various churches whose So- 
dalities belong to the Union. Six times a 
year the Council of the Union meets for busi- 
ness and discussion and suggestions, and fol- 
lowing this meeting the general committees of 
the Union hold session. 

Another advantage of the Union is that the mem- 
bers have a special share in one another's 
prayers and good works, and are encouraged 
by hearing of the efforts and successes of 
other Sodalities. Suggestive lectures and con- 
ferences, both of directors and Sodalists, to- 
gether with visits and joint meetings between 
Sodalities may be promoted from time to time 
to help the internal development of the So- 
dalities and to further their activities in their 
own parish. 

The Union carefully refrains from interfering 
with the activities of other organizations. It 
seeks to take up work which is needed and 



310 Social Organization in Parishes 

not yet attended to. Cooperation^ not com- 
petition, is its object with regard to other so- 
cieties. A number of local Unions have al- 
ready been formed, and we trust a National 
Union will soon bring them all together in 
splendid and fruitful work for self, the neigh- 
bor, and the Church in honor of Our Blessed 
Mother. 



THE ORGANIZATION MEETING 

When interest has been aroused and co- 
operation has been assured, the organization 
meeting may be held. To this meeting each 
Sodality should be invited to send two dele- 
gates who have been previously empowered to 
act for the Sodality and vote in its name. 
These two delegates may either be appointed 
by the Director or elected by the Sodality. 
They should be commissioned to represent the 
Sodality in approving the constitution and by- 
laws, voting to establish the Union, and en- 
rolling their Sodality as a member thereof. 
It would be well to send around to the different 
Sodalities a blank form of credential to be 
filled in by each Sodality which may read as 
follows : 

To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. This is to testify 
that the following delegates (Here leave space for the 
names of the delegates) have been empowered to act for 
and in behalf of (Here leave space for the name of the 



The Sodality Unions 311 

Sodality) to approve the constitution and by-laws, vote 
to establish the Union^ and enroll our Sodality as a 
member thereof. (Space should then be left for the 
signatures of the director and the president of the So- 
dality.) These two delegates^ together with the director 
of the Sodality if he wishes to attend^ constitute the del- 
egation from that Sodality. 



THE OEDER OF THE MEETING 

At the organization meeting a brief address 
should be made by the organizer of the Union 
outlining once more its pui'poses and methods 
as declared in the constitution and by-laws. 
Questions and remarks may then be heard 
from the floor and when these have been an- 
swered and disposed of a temporary chairman 
should be chosen and the following motions 
put. Resolved: That the Sodality Union of 
be established. Resolved that the stand- 
ard constitution and by-laws be approved as 
read. Each delegation may then come for- 
ward and sign a copy of the constitution and 
by-laws, in the name of the Sodality which it 
represents and as a sign of its entrance into the 
Union. Any unfinished business or further 
inquiries or suggestions may then be received. 
The meeting will then fix a date for the next 
gathering to elect their regular officers, after 
which a motion to adjourn will be in order. 



312 Social Organization in Parishes 

SOME SUCCESSFUL UNIONS 

This plan of organization by means of 
Unions of Sodalities has proven very success- 
ful. Thus in Baltimore the Sodality Union 
conducts a home for Catholic girls called the 
Casa Regina where some hundred Catholic 
girls live in a happy atmosphere of kindliness 
and Catholic influence. In Altoona, Pa., and 
in Johnstown the same work is being taken up 
by the Unions. In Pittsburgh the Sodality 
Social Service conducts a large night school 
for Catholic working girls at the Cathedral 
parish together with other night schools and 
settlements and the Summer Home for Cath- 
olic girls. The religious demonstrations con- 
ducted by the Sodality Unions draw thousands 
of people together and when these meetings are 
held in the open air the multitude assembled 
sometimes numbers eight and ten thousand 
souls. 

THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

The standard constitution and by-laws of 
the Sodality Unions run as follows : 

CONSTITUTION 

Article I. 
The official name of this association shall be the 
Sodality Union of 



The Sodality Unions 313 

Article II. 
The Object of this Union shall be to promote the 
greater glory of God and the honor of our 
Blessed Mother by the cordial and generous 
cooperation of all our Sodalities in work for 
God^ the Neighbor and the Church. 

Article III. 

Section 1 : The Officers of this Union shall be 
a President, a first Vice-President, as many 
Associate Vice-Presidents as there are So- 
dalities in the Union, a Recording Secretary, 
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Li- 
brarian. These officers shall form the Coun- 
cil of the Union. 

Section 2: The President and the first Vice- 
President, shall be elected for the term of one 
year at the first annual meeting. The Presi- 
dents or Prefects of the affiliated Sodalities 
shall be the Associate Vice-Presidents, and the 
remaining officers shall be elected for the term 
of one year by the Council of the Union. 

Section 3: There shall be a Board of Dele- 
gates consisting of the Council of the Union, 
and one elected delegate for each fifty mem- 
bers from every Sodality in the Union. 

Section 4: There shall be a Spiritual Advisory 
Board composed of the Spiritual Directors of 
the Affiliated Sodalities. 

Section 5: The Executive Committee shall 
consist of eight members of the Council chosen 
by the Council. 

Article IV. 
Special Meeting: Special meetings may be 
called by the President or at the written re- 



314 Social Organization in Parishes 

quest of any five Sodalities. Every Sodality 
shall be notified of the time and object of the 
meeting, and requested to send delegates. 

Article V. 

Every duly established Sodality of the Blessed 

Virgin in the Archdiocese of 

shall be eligible for regular membership. 

Article VI. 

Quorum: A quorum shall consist of delegates 
from one-third of the Sodalities in full mem- 
bership. 

Article VII. 

Committees: There shall be committees on 
Membership, Finance, Entertainment, Cath- 
olic Literature, Catholic Missions, Public 
Morals, Parish Welfare and Catholic Board- 
ing Houses. 

The Committees, unless otherwise provided for, 
shall be appointed at the first regular meeting 
in January, and shall present a written report 
at each regular meeting thereafter. The 
members from each Sodality shall be chosen 
by the Director of the Sodality in consultation 
with his officers. If not so appointed before 
the first regular meeting, they shall be ap- 
pointed by the President of the Union. 

All additions, alterations or amendments to this 
Constitution must be presented in writing and 
posted on the bulletin board until the follow- 
ing regular meeting. They shall then be 
acted on and adopted only by a two-thirds 
vote of the members present. 



The Sodality Unions 315 

BY-LAWS 

Article I. 

Regular meetings of the Council shall be held on 
the second Monday of every month, at eight- 
thirty o'clock in the evening, unless otherwise 
announced. 

Four times a year, on or about December 8th, 
March 25th, May 1st and September 8th, 
there shall be Sodality Demonstrations at 
which the Sodalists will meet for a joint cele- 
bration in honor of Our Lady. 

Article II. 

Order of Business: Call to order and prayer. 
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin. Roll call of So- 
dalities. Reading of the minutes, reports of 
officers and committees. Election to member- 
ship. Unfinished business and new business. 
Nomination and election of officers (at Last 
Meeting). General discussion. Social meet- 
ing for one half hour. Prayer and adjourn- 
ment. Until this order of business is com- 
pleted no motion to adjourn will be in order. 

Article III. 

Section 1 : The members of the Spiritual Ad- 
visory Board shall act as counsel and guide in 
all matters pertaining to the religious welfare 
of the members. 

Section 2 : Officers : The President shall pre- 
side at all meetings ; she shall see that all com- 
mittees perform their respective duties; she 
shall preserve order at the meeting according 
to parliamentary rules. 

Section 3 : The recording Secretary shall keep 



316 Social Organization in Parishes 

the minutes of all the regular and special 
meetings in a book provided for that purpose; 
she shall post the names of Sodalities applying 
for membership on the bulletin board and 
shall take the count at elections. 

Section 4: The Corresponding Secretary shall 
attend to the correspondence of the association 
and send out the notices of meetings and she 
shall communicate with Sodalities and Unions 
in other places. She shall see that the press 
reports fully and correctly the proceedings of 
the Union which are to be made puTblic. 

Section 5: The Treasurer shall take up all 
money and important papers of the Union; 
she shall keep a written account of the re- 
ceipts and expenditures and make a monthly 
report of the financial condition. 

Section 6: The Librarian and her assistants 
shall have entire charge of the Library and 
periodicals, pamphlets and books belonging to 
the Union. 

Section 7- The Executive Committee shall at- 
tend to the details of all Sodality celebrations, 
processions, public meetings and so on; they 
shall examine all applications for membership, 
collect initiation fees, arrange for Sodality 
Union demonstrations and entertainments and 
be at the service of the President and officers 
for the conducting of detail work connected 
with the Sodality Union. 

Article IV. 

The Membership Committee shall consist of at 
least one member from each Sodality in the 
Union, with a Chairman appointed by the 



The Sodality Unions 31T 

President. They shall make it their duty to 
invite and induce all the Sodalities of the City 
in good standing to enter the Sodality Union^ 
facilitate their application, and introduce their 
delegates to the Executive Board. They shall 
also encourage and assist in the organization 
of new Sodalities and their admission to the 
Union. 

The Committee on Finance will consist of at 
least one member from each Sodality in the 
Union with a Chairman appointed by the Pres- 
ident. They will assist the Treasurer in pro- 
viding the necessary funds for the work of the 
Union by soliciting contributions. They will 
also collect for Union headquarters and raise 
funds for special occasions. 

The Entertainment Committee will consist of 
at least one member from each Sodality in the 
Union, with a Chairman appointed by the 
President, and will cooperate with the Execu- 
tive Committee in conducting the celebrations 
of the Union, and help to arrange details. 
The Entertainment Committee will also pro- 
mote sociability among the different Sodalities 
by encouraging the exchange of visits and 
common meetings among the Sodalists. 

The Catholic Literature Committee will con- 
sist of one member from each Sodality, with a 
Chairman appointed by the President. This 
Committee will promote activities of Sodalities 
in behalf of Catholic Literature Sections, fa- 
cilitating the exchange of circulating libraries 
and church door libraries and in general pro- 
moting the taking and reading of Catholic pe- 
riodicals, on the part of the Sodalists. 



318 Social Organization in Parishes 

Catholic Missions: This Committee will be 
composed of one member from each Sodality 
with a Chairman appointed by the President. 
They will make it their duty to help Catholic 
Missions by encouraging the Sodalists to begin 
Mission Sections, by facilitating the forward- 
ing of cancelled stamps, tinfoil, and so on, to 
mission centers, and by circulating books and 
pamphlets dealing with the needs of the mis- 
sions. 

Public Morals Committee: This Committee 
will be composed of one member from each 
Sodality, with a Chairman appointed by the 
President. They will watch vigilantly for 
any need of public protest against abuses in 
theaters, periodicals, moving pictures, printed 
bill-boards, etc., which endanger public 
morals. They will call these occasions to the 
attention of the officers of the Union, and with 
and by their consent and advice send out a 
call to the Sodalists to protest against these 
abuses. A warning should be first sent to the 
offending persons in the name of the Union, 
and if this proves ineffective, personal protest 
by the members of the Union, either in words 
or writing, with a threat to withdraw their 
patronage from the offending concern, will 
prove effective. 

Membership : Sodalities wishing to be enrolled 
in the Sodality Union will send two delegates 
to the meeting of the Executive Committee 
when notified by that body. The application 
being approved by the Executive Committee 
will then be voted on by tlie Union by ballot. 

The Committee on Parish Welfare: This 



The Sodality Unions 319 

Committee will consist of one member from 
each Sodality with a Chairman appointed by 
the President. They will make it their duty 
to promote the welfare of the parishes, by aid- 
ing the parish schools, discovering occasions 
for work in the parish, and cooperating with 
the Pastors as they direct and desire. They 
will assist in the formation of Welfare Sec- 
tions in their own Sodalities, to take a com- 
plete census of the parish, where the Pastor so 
wishes, and bring all cases which need par- 
ticular help to the attention of the Pastor. 

Article V. 

Officers shall be nominated by a committee ap- 
pointed by the President at the last meeting 
of the calendar year. Persons to be eligible 
must be members in good standing of one of 
the Sodalities enrolled in the Union. 



CHAPTER VIII 
THE DIRECTOR 

HIS CHARACTER AND DUTIES 

THE name ''Director," v/hich is given to 
the priest in charge of a Sodahty, is a 
very significant one. It expresses admirably 
his character and duties. If one wishes to 
learn whether one is really discharging the of- 
fice intrusted to him well and faithfuUv, one 
has only to ask: — ''Am I truly a Director — do 
I efiicaciously direct my Sodalists along the 
true and proper lines of the Sodality's work 
and spirit?" 

The first office of the Director is to direct! 
Apparently a superfluous reminder. But 
there have been Directors who greatly missed 
the meaning of their office, and instead of di- 
recting tried in their zeal to do all the work 
themselves. Instead of bending all their en- 
ergy toward interesting as many others in the 
work of the Sodality as they could find and in- 
fluence, by giving each one a definite share of 

320 



The Director 321 

the work and of the responsibility, they en- 
deavored to attend to everything themselves — 
thus wearing themselves out needlessly, while 
at the same time they deprived their Sodalists 
of precious opportunities of supernatural 
merit. They wore themselves out and grew 
discouraged for want of a realization that the 
Director's first duty is to direct ! 

To direct is to guide, to instruct, to encour- 
age and train the Sodalists in the true spirit of 
the great society to which they belong. The 
Sodality is an association with very definite 
ideals, very explicit rules, and a character and 
work of its own, which it has received and holds 
by the authority of the Vicar of Christ him- 
self. Hence it is the duty of the Director to 
know explicitly and clearly the rules of the 
Sodality, and the spirit and purpose which they 
safeguard and express. In 1910 the Father 
General of the Society of Jesus, by the author- 
ity given him by the Holy See, issued a new 
set of rules which are the epitome of the spirit 
and purpose of the organization. These rules 
have been approved by the Ordinaries for use 
in many American Sodalities. It goes with- 
out saying that any Director who neglects to 
study and master the spirit and meaning of 
these rules of the Sodality, cannot be truly a 



322 Social Organization in Parishes 

"director" — since he himself is ignorant of the 
right ways of Sodality action and spirit. 

It is no light office, from the standpoint of 
fidelity and honor, to be Director of a Sodality. 
The faithful who enter the ranks of the serv- 
ants of Om' Lady expect to find there right 
guidance and direction toward personal holi- 
ness, and the ordering of their lives for heaven. 
They entrust themselves, not to the pleasure 
of the individual who is in charge, but to the 
tested virtue and experience of the great or- 
ganization, with its three hundred and fifty 
years of fruitful experience, its approved and 
efficacious means of sanctification, and they 
ask to be guided and directed in the authorized 
activities of the Sodahty. The Director must 
know the way of the rules, and point it out to 
them. 

A careful and systematic study of the rules 
is then a prime duty of every director of a So- 
dality. He will find himself invested by these 
rules with no small authority over his Sodal- 
ists. This authority, needless to say, is to be 
exercised with discretion and with sweetness, 
and the wise director will appeal as seldom as 
possible to his rights, and lead his Sodahsts 
forward with the cord of human kindness, of a 
devoted interest in their spiritual welfare, and 



The Director 323 

a wise direction in the ways of personal holi- 
ness and of the help of the neighbor and the 
Church. 

Finally the director who, by his fervor and 
devotion to duty, builds up a truly zealous and 
fervent Sodality, and leads it forward in good 
works, will surely merit great rewards, here 
and hereafter, just as the one who neglects his 
office, and by his negligence ruins the spirit of 
the Sodality and wastes the time and the op- 
portunity of its members must give an account 
to God. 

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR DIRECTORS 

Make everything as convenient as possible. 
Meetings at odd hours or in uncomfortable 
places, etc., use up patience that had far better 
be saved for work. 

Keep in the background as much as possible 
and let the Sodalists manage. It is their 
work ; trust them to do it. You want helpers, 
not puppets. Do not interfere except in case 
of actual need, and then gently and tactfully. 

Blame sparingly and praise generously. 
Your part is to encourage and guide. Don't 
discourage. 

Be patient with awkward beginnings. Do 
not attempt too much nor too suddenly. Use 



324 Social Organization in Parishes 

the supernatural spirit to help the work, and 
the work to help the supernatural spirit. 

Do not change plans lightly. Give each a 
thorough trial once you have begun. 

Ceteris paribus, the less you do, and the 
more your Sodalists do, the better. Keep 
your energies to do the things they cannot. 

Find the natural leaders, who can and will 
direct the work, and rely on them. If the 
members will elect them officers, so much the 
better. If not, you may appoint them. Al- 
ways have new workers in training, to fill gaps 
in the ranks. . * 

See to it that the dead wood is pruned from 
the Sections. If any one will not work, away 
with him. Try to have the burdens borne 
evenly. One energetic but tactless member 
may disgust or thrust aside the rest. Avoid 
any appearance of cliques, parties or factions. 
The spirit of the Virgin Mary cannot dwell 
with the spirit of bickerings. Shun any sem- 
blance of having favorites. Do not allow any 
one to grow rooted in office or get the lion's 
share of the honors. Be, at all times in every- 
thing, a father, example and guide. 



CHAPTER IX 
SUCCESS 

THE success of a Sodality depends on its 
spirit of supernatural charity and zeal, 
on faithfulness to the rules, and on cordial and 
reciprocal confidence, charity and cooperation 
between the Pastor, or Director, and the So- 
dalists. It requires much mutual patience, 
considerateness, forbearance, and kindness. 
It supposes zeal in all quarters, a patience of 
small results, especially in the beginning, and 
willingness to learn by experience. Each in- 
dividual concerned should regard the success 
of the enterprise as depending on his or her 
zeal and faithfulness; should blame any ill- 
success, as far as possible, on his or her own 
shortcomings, and should be ready to sacrifice 
for the general good all merely personal inter- 
ests, likings and plans. 

Causes of failure : A want of supernatural 
and unselfish zeal and energy, petty spites, 
jealousies, and ambitions, between persons, 
parishes, or Sodahties, which are unspeakably 

325 



326 Social Organization in Parishes 

silly, and a sad obstacle to union. A want of 
perseverance in plans, and a changeableness of 
purpose. Domineering on the Director's part. 
Self-will and stubbornness among members. 
Trying too much and doing nothing thor- 
oughly. Neglect of details; want of method, 
promptness and system. Non-division of la- 
bor. 

The true and right rivalry between Sodalists 
and Sodalities is that of zeal and effort for 
personal holiness, the help of the neighbor and 
the defense of the Church in honor of Our 
Lady. A false rivalry for precedence or honor 
means destruction. The Sodality is the fam- 
ily of Mary, and should reproduce in itself as 
far as may be the virtues of the Holy Family. 
The spirit of prayer, of industry, of devotion 
to small details out of the great love of God, a 
holy helpfulness and sociability, thoughtful- 
ness and solicitude for one another and for all 
who are in trouble and in need, these are the 
virtues which should characterize the members 
of Sodalities, and faithfully exercised they will 
both deserve and ensure success. 



INDEX 



Academies, in Colleges, 149 
In High Schools, 149 
Of Apologetics, 297 
Of Architecture, 301 
Of Art, 301 
Of History, 295 
Of Philosophy, 293 
Of Social Study, 298 
Original Work of, 291 
Scope of, 288 
Subjects of, 290 
Activities, Employment, 217, 241 
Committee on Existing, 218 
For Married Men, 40, 56 
For Married Women, 40, 56 
For Public Morals, 151, 313 
For Young Men, 40, 56 
For Young Women, 40, 55 
Initial, 14, 19, 21, 37, 142 
List of, 161 

Selection of, 14, 19, 21, 37, 
67, 75, 142, 307 
Act of Consecration, Nurses', 

128 
Adopting a Child, 275 
Advantages, Sodality, 31, 77 
Advertisements, Organized Pro- 
test against Immoral, 151, 
318 
Affiliation, Applying for, 16, 
104, 107, 110, 114 
Details of, 110 
Diploma of, 107 
Duration of, 112 
Effects of, 17, 109, 141 
Expenses of, 17, 112 
Filling Out Petition for, 106 
Form of Petition for, 104 
Of Existing Societies, 113 
Order of Procedure for, 17 
Sending in Petition for, 107 
Time for Making Applica- 
tion for, 110 



Age of Admission, Knights and 
Ladies of Blessed Sacra- 
ment Section, 199 

Aggregation (See Affiliation) 

Altar Vestments, Repairing, 
287 

Alumni and Alumnae Sodali- 
ties, 136 

Amendments to Constitution 
of Sodality Union, 314 

Amusements, Organized Pro- 
test against Immoral, 151, 
318 

Angel Guardian Section in Par- 
ish School, 143 

Apologetics, Academy of, 297 
Section for Nurses, 132 

Apostleship of the Press, 256, 
257 

Apostolate, Sodality as a Lay, 
306 

Application for Affiliation, 16, 
104, 107, 110, 114 

Applications for Membership, 
17. 

Appointment of Section Offi- 
cers, 43 
Of Sodality Officers, 42, 44 

Approval of Bishop, 16, 17, 18 

Architecture, Academy of, 301 

Art, Academy of, 301 

Athletics Section, 148, 271 
In High School, 148 

Authorship Section in High 
School, 148 

Autovan Lecture Campaign, 
185 

B 

Badge, Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section, 
200 
Bands, Formation of, 37 
Seating the, 83 



327 



828 



Index 



Beginning the Organization, 19, 
141 
A Concrete Instance of, 64 
Another Way of, 63, 57 
A Practical Method of, 18 

Benedict XV, Pope, as Sodalist, 
31 
His Words on Sodality, 31, 143 

Benefit Fund Section for 
Nurses, 131 

Benevolent Societies, 80 

Bishop, Approval of, 16 

Blessed Sacrament, Knights 
and Ladies of, 38, 99 

Blessed Virgin, Devotion to, 22, 
23, 30, 31, 78, 306 
Little Office of, 67, 82 

Board of Delegates of Sodality 
Union, 313 

Board, Spiritual Advisory, 
of Sodality Union, 313, 315 

Books, Buying Catholic, 86 
Collective Buying of, 251 

Books and Magazines for Mis- 
sions, 284 

Book Section for Nurses, 131 

Book Table Committee of Lec- 
ture Section, 176 

Boy Scouts, Section for, 243 

Boys, Work for, Section, 40, 56 

Breakfasts after Communion, 
168 

Business Advice, Section for, 
242 



Campaigns, Collection, Y. M. 
C. A. Method, 189 
Membership, 26, 69 
Membership, by Mail, 71 
Campflre Girls, Section for, 244 
Candidates, Enrollment of, 17, 
18, 25, 26 
Grade of, 18, 25, 27 
Instructors of, 76, 80 
Probation of, 18, 25, 27, 74 
Canvass for Membership, 25, 

60, 63 
Carpentering Section, 236 



Catalogue, Parish, 223 
Catechetical Section, 38, 41, 66, 
69, 98, 231, 286 
Catholic Instruction Leagues 

of, 232 
Special Needs of, 233 
Catechists, Helping a School 

for, 283 
Catholic Federation of Socie- 
ties of Boston, Plan of, 184 
Catholic Press Hour, 248 
Census, Parish, 224 
Child, Adopting a, 275 

Lonely, Section, 246 
Children of Mary Book, 80, 141 
Children's Aid Section in High 

School, 149 
Choral Section, B5, 266 
Christ-Child Section, 264 
Christmas Cheer Section, 269 
Church and School, Financing, 

Sections for, 40, 56 
Church Building Section, 228 
Choosing Members for, 229 
Sources of Funds for, 231 
Church Door Library, 252 
Circles, Explanation of, 93 
Officers of, 94 
Reading at, 94 
Citizenship and Civics Section 

in High School, 149 
Classes, Special, Sodalities for, 

118 
Club, Mothers', Section, 268 
Collection Campaigns, 189 

Y. M. C. A. Method for, 189 
College (See High School) 
Committees, Executive, of So- 
dality Union, 313 
On Needs and Opportunities, 
217 

Committees of Sodality Union, 
308, 314 

Common Cause Plan of Lec- 
tures, 185 

Communicants, Weekly, of 
Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section, 
198 



Index 



329 



Communion, Breakfasts After, 
168 
Frequent, Section, 38, 195 

Conditions, Preliminary Study 
of Local, 13, 16, 18, 61. 

Conferences of Director, 68 

Conferences, Matter for Organ- 
ization, 28, 37 

Confession, Knights and Ladies 
of Blessed Sacrament Sec- 
tion, 198 

Constitution and By-Laws of 
Sodality Union, 312 

Consultors of Sodality, 25, 26, 
83, 84 

Contests, Entering Literary, 292 
Membership, 71 

Converts, Instructing, 233 

Cooking Section, 236 

Cooperation, of Lecture Section 
with Other Parishes, 182 
Of Sodality with Other So- 
cieties, 116, 160 
Of Sodality Union with Other 

Societies, 309 
Outside, 97 

Correspondence Section, 264 
Council of Sodality Union, 309 
Courses, Special Lecture, for 

Lecture Section, 178 
Current Events Section in High 

School, 150 
Current Topic Groups of Lec- 
ture Section, 181 



D 

Day Nursery Section, 238 
Debates, Lecture Section, 181 
Degrees, Three, of Knights and 
Ladies of Blessed Sacra- 
ment Section, 202 
Diploma of Affiliation, How 
Obtained, 107, 108 
Need of, 17 
Director, 320 

Character and Duties of, 320 
Conferences of, 68 



Consultation of, with Offi- 
cers, 67 
General Suggestions for, 323 
In Election of Officers, 43 
Powers of, 46, 64 
Relations of, with Officers, 

65, 67 
Work of, 68 
Discourse, A Typical, 80 
Districting the Parish, 219 
Domestic Science Section in 

High School, 150 
Dramatic Section, 65, 160 

In High School, 150 
Duties of Section Officers, 162, 

163 
Duties of Sodality Officers, 45 



E 



Election of Officers, Director's 

part in, 39, 43, 5Q 
Election of Section Officers, 39, 
43, 56 
Of Sodality Officers, 42 
Employment Activities, 217, 241 
Employment Section for Nurses, 

131 
Enrollment of Candidates, 17, 

25 
Entertainment Committee of 

Sodality Union, 317 
Entertainment Section, 169 
Duties, 169 

High School and College, 147 
Erection of Sodality, 16, 104, 
110, 114 
Applying for, 104 
Duration of, 112 
Effects of, 108, 141 
Form of Petition for, 105 
Time to Apply for, 110 
Errors to be Avoided, 61, 94, 

101, 164, 165, 166, 323, 325 
Essentials of the Sodality, 102 
Ethics of Nursing Section for 

Nurses, 132 
Exhibitions, Immoral, Suppress- 
ing, 151, 318 
Expenses of Affiliation, 17, 112 



830 



Index 



F 

Faith, Defense and Spread of, 

22, 23, 24, 31 
Fathers' and Daughters' Day, 

168 
Fathers' and Sons' Day, 168 
Films, Organized Protest 

against Immoral, 161, 318 
Finance Committee of Sodality 

Union, 317 
First Communion, Preparing 

Children for, 233 
Foreign Missions, Helping, 284 
Form of Credential for Sodali- 
ty Union, 310 
Form of Organization, Choice 

of, 16 
Form of Petition to Ordinary, 

105 
Frequent Communion Section, 

38, 195 
Friendly Visitors' Section, 237 
Fund, Benefit, Section for 

Nurses, 131 
Loan, Section for Nurses, 131 

G 

Good Works, Alphabetical List 

of, 161 
Choice of, 14 
Guardian Angel Section in 

Parish School, 143 



H 

Handiwork Section, 236 

Help of Neighbor, Sections for, 

216 
High School Academies, 149 

Apologetics, 297 

Architecture, 301 

Art, 301 

History, 295 

Philosophy, 293 

Social Study, 298 
High School Sections, 144 

Academies, 149 

Athletics Section, 148 



Authorship Section, 148 
Catholic Instruction Section, 

147 
Children's Aid Section, 149 
Citizenship and Civics Sec- 
tion, 149 
Current Events Section, 160 
Domestic Science Section, 150 
Dramatic Section, 150 
Entertainment Section, 147 
Immigrant Aid Section, 149 
Music Section, 148 
Parish School Aid Section, 

149 
Poor Aid Section, 147 
Sewing Section for Girls, 149 
Social Study Club, 147 
High School Sodalities, 144 
Advantages of, 145 
Need for, 145 
Organization of, 146 
History, Academy of, 295 
Holy Name Section, 143, 209 

in Parish School, 143 
Holy Name Society and the So- 
dality, 63 
Holy Pact Section, 207 
Home Finders' Section, 275 
Home Missions, Helping, 285 
Housekeepers, Parish, 56, 236 



Immigrant Aid Section in High 
School, 149 

Immigrants' Classes, Section 
for, 239 

Indian Missions, Helping, 285 

Indulgences, Gaining of So- 
dality, 18, 33, 88, 102 

Information Meeting, 47 

Initiation, Form of, in Knights 
and Ladies of Blessed Sac- 
rament Section, 200 

Installation of OflBcers, 66 

Instruction Section in High 
School, 147 

Interest, Need of Constant, 16« 
20, 68, 87, 101 

Intermediate Sodality, 187 



Index 



331 



Jeanne d'Arc Club of Chicago, 

Lecture Plan of, 183 
Juvenile Court Section, 272 

K 

Knights and Ladies of Blessed 
Sacrament Section, 38, 99, 
196 
Age of Admission to, 199 
Badge of, 200 
Confession of, 198 
Duties of Members of, 197 
Ecclesiastical Students of, 199 
Form of Initiation into, 200 
For Nurses, 130 
In Parish School, 142 
Knights' Thanksgiving of, 199 
Magazine of, 200 
Nature of, 196 
Pages of, 199 
Plan for Schools, 201 
Priest-Knights of, 199 
Promoter-Knights of, 199 
Religious of, 199 
Three Degrees of, 202 
Weekly Communicants of, 198 



Law and Medicine Section, 242 
Law Students, Sodalities for, 

125 
Lawyers, Sodalities for, 124 
Leaders, The Right, 304 
Leaflet "Be A Sodalist," 32 
Leaflets, Information, 20, 32 
League of Sacred Heart, Or- 
ganizing, 172 
Lecturers, Developing, for Lec- 
ture Section, 182 
Obtainable Gratis, 181 
Lectures, Exchanging with 
Other Parishes, 176, 182 
For Nurses, Courses of, 129 
Lecture Section, 175 

Autovan Campaign of, 185 
Book Table Committee of, 176 
Common Cause Plan of, 185 



Cooperation with Other Par- 
ishes, 182 
Current Topic Groups of, 181 
Debates of, 181 
Developing Lecturers for, 182 
In High School and College, 

148 
Lecturers Obtainable Gratis 

for, 181 
Neighborhood Groups of, 181 
Program Committee of, 175 
Publicity Committee of, 175 
Reception and Ushers' Com- 
mittee of, 175 
Slides Obtainable Gratis for, 

182 
Special Lecture Courses of, 

178 
Study Classes of, 177 
Subjects of Lectures of, 178 
Successful Plans for, 183 
Variety of Lectures of, 176 
Vocational Talks of, 180 
Lecturing, Study Class in, 177 
Library, A Catholic Public, 261 
Church Door, 252 
For Nurses, 129 
Getting Catholic Books into 

Public, 259 
Sodality, 262 
List of Good Works, Alpha- 
betical, 151 
Literary Contests, Entering, 

292 
Literature, Catholic, Commit- 
tee of Sodality Union, 317 
Literature Section, Catholic, 40, 
55, 247 
Catholic Book Buying of, 

258 
Catholic Press Week of, 257 
Catholic Public Library of, 

261 
Church Door Library of, 252 
Collective Buying of, 251 
Getting Catholic Books into 

Public Library, 261 
In Rural Parishes, 249 
In Schools and Colleges, 142, 
247 



882 



Index 



Pamphlet Rack of, 250 

Scripture Study of, 263 

Sodality I^ibrary of, 262 

Study Clubs of, 254 

Subscriptions of, to Catho- 
lic Magazines, 256 
Little Office of Blessed Virgin, 

67, 82 
Loan Fund Section, 174 

For Nurses, 131 
Local Conditions, Preliminary 

Study of, 13, 16, 18, 61 
Lonely Child Section, 246 
Lunches for Parish School 
Children, 235 



M 



Magazine, Knights -nd Ladies 
of Blessed Sacrament Sec- 
tion, 200 
Magazines and Books for Mis- 
sions, 284 
Magazines, Subscriptions to 

Catholic, 256 
Manual, Sodality, 77 
Manual Training Section, 236 
Mass, Daily, Section, 205, 206 

For Nurses, 133 
Medical Students, Sodalities 

for, 123 
Medicine and Law Section, 242 
Meditation Section, 210 
Meetings, Frequency of, 88, 91, 
142 
Information, 47 
Of All Parish Sodalities, 397 
^Organization, 28, 35, 52 
Outside Attendance at, 99 
Place of, 39, 47 
Regular, 82 
Return, 50 
Second, 66, 66 
Section, 47, 90, 91 
Social Features at, QO, 62, 70, 

78 
Sodality Officers', 81 
Sodality Union, 316 
Time of, 92 



Varying the, 82, 85, 87, 92 

Weekly, 89 
Members, Elimination of Inac- 
tive, 96 

Interchange of, 133 

Old, Duties of, 79 

Training New, 76 

Welcoming New, 77 
Membership, Advantages of, 31 

Application for, 17 

Campaign for, 25, 69 

Campaign for, by Mail, 71 

Campaign, Plans for, 25, 69, 
73 

Canvass for, 25, 50, 53 

Contests for, 71 

Duties of, in Knights and 
Ladies of Blessed Sacra- 
ment Section, 197 

In New State of Life, 134 

Of Sodality Union, 314, 318 

Outside, 98 

Points on, 134 

Sodality Union Committee 
on, 316. 

Subsequent Canvass for, 60. 

Total, 32, 119, 306. 
Membership Section, 38, 45, 68, 
169. 

Campaigns of, 170. 

Canvass of, 170. 

For Nurses, 130 

Instructor of Candidates of, 
171. 

Interviews of, 170. 
Men, Alacrity to join, 63. 

Activities for Married, 40, 5Q, 

Activities for Young, 40, 5Q. 
Methods, Flexibility of, 16, 19, 
60, 100. 

Of Introducing Organization, 
21, 28, 30, 32, 60. 

Of Organizing SodalityUnion, 
303. 

Various, of Organizing, 21, 
39, 52, 57, 60. 
Missions, Adopting, 282. 

Books and Magazines for, 
284. 

For Organizing, 22, 27 



Index 



333 



Helping Home, 285. 
Helping Indian and Negro, 

285. 
Preserving Good Effects of, 

23. 
Sodality Union Committee of, 

318. 
Supplies for, 278. 
Mission Section, 276. 

Adopting a Mission in, 282. 
Books and Magazines for 

Missions in, 284. 
Collecting Tinfoil for, 284. 
For Nurses, 129 
Helping Foreign Missions in, 

284. 
Helping Home Missions in, 

285. 
Helping School for Cate- 

chists in, 283. 
In Parish School, 142 
Making New Vestments from 

Old in, 287. 
Self-Denial Fund in, 279. 
Supplies for Missions in, 278. 
Morals, Activities for Public, 

151, 318. 
Mothers' and Daughters' Day, 

168. 
Mothers' and Sons' Day, 168 
Mothers' Club Section, 268 
Music Section in High School, 

148 
Mutual Aid Section, 172 



N 



National System of Nurses' So- 
dalities, 133 
Needs and Opportunities, Com- 
mittee on, 217 
Negro Missions, Helping, 285 
Neighbor, Help of, 22, 23, 24, 31 
Neighborhood Group of Lec- 
ture Section, 181 
Neighbor, Sections for Help of, 
216 
Athletics Section, 271 
Boy Scouts' Section, 243 



Business AdvlCe Section, 242 
Campfire Girls' Section, 244 
Carpentering Section, 236 
Catechetical Section, 231, 286 
Catholic Instruction League, 

232 
Catholic Literature Section, 

247 
Choral Section, 266 
Christ-Child Section, 264 
Christmas Cheer Section, 269 
Church Building Section, 228 
Cooking Section, 236 
Correspondence Section, 264 
Day Nursery Section, 238 
Friendly Visitors' Section, 237 
Handiwork Section, 236 
Home Finders' Section, 275 
Immigrants' Classes Section, 

239 
Juvenile Court Section, 272 
Law and Medicine Section, 

242 
Lonely Child Section, 242 
Manual Training Section, 236 
Mission Section, 276 
Mothers' Club Section, 268 
Parish Housekeepers' Section, 

235 
Parish School-Aid Section, 

234 
Parish Welfare Section, 221 
Poor-Aid Section, 241 
Prisoners'-Aid Section, 270 
Sanctuary Section, 267 
Sewing Section, 236 
Sociability Section, 273 
Travellers'- Aid Section, 237 
Nomination of OflScers of So- 
dality Union, 319 
Nurses, Interchange of Mem- 
bership of, 133 
Sodalities for, 127 
Nurses' Sections, 127 

Benefit Fund Section, 131 
Catholic Apologetics Section, 

132 
Catholic Book Section, 131 
Daily Mass Section, 133 
Employment Section, 131 



834. 



Index 



Ethics of Nursing Section, 

132 
Knights and Ladies of Blessed 

Sacrament Section, 130 
Loan Fund Section, 131 
Membership Section, 130 
Mission Section, 129 
Poor-Aid Section, 132 
Post-Graduate Section, 133 
Sewing Section, 130 
Sociability Section, 132 
Spiritual Reading Section, 

133 



Need of Lay, 14, 19 
Work of, 39, 48 
Organizing, Hasty Methods of, 
39, 40 
Methods of, 21, 35, 39, 63, 67, 

73 
Practical Examples of, 64, 
67, 73 
Orphan Asylums, Providing En- 
tertainment for, 246 
Our Lady's Messengers' Sec- 
tion in Parish School, 143 



O 



Object, of Sodality, 22, 23, 24, 
30, 31, 62, 63, 305 
of Sodality Union, 313 
OflBcers, Appointment of Sec- 
tion, 43 
Appointment of Sodality, 42, 

44 
Consultation of Director with, 

67 
Duties of Section, 162 
Duties of Sodality, 45 
Election of Section, 39, 43, &Q 
Election of Sodality, 42 
Installation of, 66 
Length of Term of, 45 
Removal of, 44 
Retaining Former, 44 
Sodality, Major, 45 
Sodality, Minor, 46 
Sodality, Meetings, 81 
Order of Business, at Officers' 
Meetings, 81 
At Section Meetings, 90 
At Sodality Union Meetings, 
315 
Order of Exercises at Sodality 

Meetings, 82 
Organization Conferences, Mat- 
ter for, 28-37 
Organization Meeting, 28, 35, 62 
Organization, Parish School, 

Example of, 140 
Organizers, Developing Lay, 16, 
20 



Pages, Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section, 
199 
Pamphlet Rack in Churches, 260 
Pamphlets, Buying, 86 
Parish, Catalogue of, 223 
Catholic Literature Section in 

Rural, 249 
Census of, 224 
Districting the, 219 
Housekeepers' Section of, 66, 

236 
Map of, 220 

Plan for Large, 41, 64, 100 
Plan for New, 40, 63 
Plan for Small, 40, 63, 57, 100 
Parish School-Aid Section, 65, 
234 
In High School, 150 
Parish Schools, Knights and La- 
dies of Blessed Sacrament 
Section in, 142 
Parish-School Sections, 142 
Angel Guardian Section, 143 
Catholic Literature Section, 

139, 142 
Catholic Press Hour, 139 
Good Reading Section, 143 
Holy Name Section, 143 
Knights and Ladies of Blessed 

Sacrament Section, 142 
Our Lady's Messengers' Sec- 
tion, 143 
Pastor's-Aid Section, 143 



Index 



335 



Self-Denial Fund Section, 
139, 142 
Parish School Sodality, Estab- 
lishment of, 141 
Important Details of, 139 
Information on, 144 
Initiative of Members of, 144 
Membership Requirements of, 

139 
Need of, 138 
Officers of, 143 
Organization of, 140 
Parish Sodalities, General Meet- 
ing of, 307 
Parish Welfare Committee of 

Sodality Union, 318 
Parish Welfare Section, 221 
Monthly Visitation of, 225 
Organization of, 222 
Parish Catalogue of, 223 
Parish Census of, 224 
Parish Record Cards of, 226 
Particular Parish Needs, As- 
certaining, 226 
President of, 227 
Special Cases of Distress, 224 
Pastor as Organizer, 28, 52 
Pastor's Aid Section in Parish 

School, 143 
Patroness, Primary, 113 
Patron or Patroness, Second- 
ary, 113 
Patrons of Sections, 75 
Perpetual Praise Section, 205 
Personal Holiness Sections, 22, 
306 
Daily Mass Section, 205 
Frequent Communion Section, 

195 
Holy Name Section, 209 
Holy Pact Section, 207 
Knights and Ladies of Blessed 

Sacrament Section, 196 
Mass Section, 206 
Meditation Section, 210 
Monthly Recollection Section, 

211 
Perpetual Praise Section, 205 
Retreat Section, 212 
Rosary Section, 207 



Sacred Heart Section, 208 
Silent Crusade of Reparation 

Section, 208 
Spiritual Reading Section, 

192 
Study and Prayer for In- 
crease of Frequent Com- 
munion Section, 203 
Visit Section, 207 
Personal Holiness, Striving for, 

22, 23, 24, 31, 306 
Petition, Filling out Applica- 
tion, 106 
Sending in Affiliation, 107 
To Bishop, Form of, 103, 105 
Philosophy, Academy of, 293 
Physicians, Sodalities for, 121 
Plans, Alternative, for Organiz- 
ing, 21, 35, 39, 53, 57, 73 
For Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section 
in Schools, 201 
Lecture, of Federation of So- 
cieties of Boston, 184 
Lecture, of Jeanne d'Arc 

Club of Chicago, 183 
Successful, for Lecture Sec- 
tion, 183 
Poor-Aid Section, 14, ^B, 241 
For Nurses, 132 
In High Schools, 147 
Prayer Section, Mental, for 

Nurses, 133 
Prayer, Union of, with Section 

Work, 95 
Preliminaries, Organization, 13, 
14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29 
Press, Apostolate of, 256 
Catholic, Hour, 248 
Catholic, Week, 257 
Priest-Knights, of Knights and 
Ladies of Blessed Sacra- 
ment Section, 199 
Priests, Sodalities for, 119 
Prima Primaria, Relation of 

Sodality to, 109 
Prisoners'-Aid Section, 270 
Probation of Candidates, 18, 25, 
27, 74 



336 



Indeoo 



Procedure, Modifying the, 60 
Order of, for Affiliation, 17 

Program Committee of Lecture 
Section, 175 

Program, for Organization 
Meeting, 35 
For Second Meeting, 65 

Promoter-Knights, of Knights 
and Ladies of Blessed Sac- 
rament Section, 199 

Promoters, Sodality, 20, 25, 26 

Public Demonstrations of So- 
dality Union, 309 

Publicity Committee of Lecture 
Section, 175 

Public Library, Catholic, 261 
Introducing Catholic Books 
into, 259 

Public Morals Committee of So- 
dality Union, 318 

Public Speaking Class, 177 

Q 

Queen's Work, Address of, 144 
Question Box at Meetings, 86 

R 

Raccolta, Use of, at Meetings, 
85 

Reading Section, Good, Parish 
School, 143 

Reception Committee of Lec- 
ture Section, 175 

Recollection, Section for Nurses, 
133 
Monthly, Section, 211 

Record Cards, Parish, 226 

Religious in Knights and La- 
dies of Blessed Sacrament 
Section, 199 

Religious Exercises of Sodal- 
ists, 78 

Reparation, Silent Crusade of. 
Section, 208 

Reports, of Individual Mem- 
bers, 91 
Of Section Secretaries, 84 



Retreats, Centers for, 213 
Closed, 212 

For Organizing, 22, 27 
Preserving Good Effects of, 

23 
Section for, 212 
Reviving Sodality Spirit, 62 
Rosary Section, 207 
Rules, Additional, Adoption of, 
104 
Adoption of "1910," 103 
Explanation of, 23, 36, 66, 68, 
76 



Sacred Heart Section, 208 

St. Vincent de Paul Society, 

Aiding, 226, 241 
Sanctuary Section, 267 
Savings Fund Section, 174 
School, Church and. Financing, 

Sections for, 40, 56 
Scripture Study, 263 
Secretaries, Section, 38, 42 
Sections, Additional, 75 

Advantages of, 158 

Cooperation of, 160 

Divisions of, 167 

Election of Officers of, 161 

Explanation of, 37 

Formation of, 35, 40, 55 

Internal Organization of, 161 

List of Practical Works for, 
151 

Meetings of, 47, 90 

Minor Officers of, 163 

Nature of, 156 

New, 160 

Permanent, 159 

President of, 162 

Proceedings of Meetings of, 90 

Recommendation of, in Rules, 
156 

Suggestions for Management 
of, 164 

Temporary, 169 

Unity of, 158 

Works of, 169 



Index 



337 



Sections, Various, 167 
Angel Guardian Section, 143 
Apologetics Section, 132 
Athletics Section, 148, 271 
Authorship Section, 148 
B07 Scouts' Section, 243 
Business Advice Section, 242 
Campfire Girls' Section, 244 
Carpentering Section, 236 
Catechetical Section, 38, 41, 

55, 59, 98, 231, 286 
Catholic Book Section, 131 
Children's Aid Section, 149 
Choral Section, 55, 266 
Christ-Child Section, 264 
Christmas Cheer Section, 269 
Church and School Finance 

Section, 40, 56 
Church Building Section, 228 
Citizenship and Civics Sec- 
tion, 149 
Communion, Frequent, Sec- 
ton, 38, 195 
Cooking Section, 236 
Correspondence Section, 264 
Current Events Section, 150 
Day Nursery Section, 238 
Domestic Science Section, 150 
Dramatic Section, 55, 150 
Employment Section, 131 
Entertainment Section, 169, 

147 
Ethics of Nursing Section, 

132 
Friendly Visitors' Section, 237 
Handiwork Section, 236 
Help of Neighbor Sections, 

216 
Holy Name Section, 143, 209 
Holy Pact Section, 207 
Home Finders' Section, 275 
Immigrant Aid Section, 149 
Immigrants' Classes, Section 

for, 239 
Instruction, Catholic, Section, 

147 
Juvenile Court Section, 272 
Knights and Ladies of Blessed 
Sacrament Section, 130, 142, 
196 



Law and Medicine Section, 

242 
Lecture Section, 148, 176 
Literature, Catholic, Section, 

40, 41, 55, 58, 142, 247 
Loan Fund Section, 131, 174 
Lonely Child Section, 246 
Manual Training Section, 236 
Mass, Daily, Section, 133, 205 
Mass Section, 206 
Medicine and Law Section, 

242 
Meditation Section, 210 
Our Lady's Messengers' Sec- 
tion, 143 
Parish Housekeepers' Section, 

m, 235 
Parish School Aid Section, 55, 

150, 234 
Parish Welfare Section, 221 
Pastor's-Aid Section, 143 
Perpetual Praise Section, 205 
Personal Holiness Sections, 

192 
Poor Aid Section, 14, 98, 132, 

147, 241 
Prayer, Mental, Section, 133 
Prisoners'-Aid Section, 270 
Reading, Good, Section, 143 
Recollection Section, 133, 211 
Reparation, Silent Crusade of. 

Section, 208 
Retreat Section, 212 
Rosary Section, 207 
Sacred Heart Section, 208 
Sanctuary Section, 267 
Savings Fund Section, 174 
Self-Denial Section, 142 
Sewing Section, 55, 130, 149, 

236 
Sociability Section, 14, 38, 41, 

65, 58, 132, 168, 273 
Spiritual Reading Section, 

133, 192 
Study Section, 133 
Study and Prayer for Fre- 
quent Communion Section, 

203 
Travelers'- Aid Section, 237 
Visit Section, 207 



338 



Index 



Ways and Means Section, 187 
Welfare, Sodality, Section, 167 
Work for Boys Section, 40, 56 
Self-Denial Fund, Box for, 59 
Self-Denial Section (See Mis- 
sion Section) 
Sewing Section for Girls in 
High School, 149 
For Missions, 55 
For Nurses, 130 
For Parish Church, 55 
For Poor, 55, 236 
Slides for Lectures, Obtainable 

Gratis, 182 
Sociability Section, 14, 38, 41, 
55, 58, 168, 273 
For Nurses, 132 
Social Character of Sodality, 78 
Social Features at Meetings, 60, 

62, 70, 78 
Social Meetings for Nurses, 129 
Social Study, Academy of, 147, 

298 
Social Study Club in High 

School, 147 
Social Workers, Employment 

of Trained, 57 
Societies, Aggregation of Exist- 
ing, 113 
Benevolent, 80 
Example of Reorganization 

of Existing, 115 
Reorganization of Existing, 

114 
Union of Existing, with So- 
dality, 114 
When Reorganization Advis- 
able, 114 

Sodalities, for Special Persons, 
Need of, 118, 119 
Total Number of, 31 

Sodalities, Various, 118 
Alumni and Alumnss, 136 
College, 144 
High School, 144 
Intermediate, 137 
Law Students*, 125 
Lawyers', 124 



Medical Students*, 123 
Nurses', 127-133 
Parish School, 138 
Physicians', 121 
Priests', 119 
Teachers', 126 

Sodality, Advantages of, 31, 77 
Affiliation of, 16 
Aims of, 22, 30, 62, 305 
As Lay Apostolate, 306 
Consultors of, 25, 83 
Cooperation of, with other 

Societies, 116, 160 
Erection of, 16, 104 
Essentials of, 102 
Indulgences of, 18, 33, 88, 102 
Intermediate, 137 
Manual of, 77 
Need of Special, 118 
Outside Cooperation with, 97 
Relations with Holy Name 

Society, 63 
Spirit of, 62, 78 

Speakers, Special, at Meetings, 
92, 96 

Spirit, Sodality, 62, 78, 79 

Spiritual Reading Section, 192, 
193, 194, 195 
For Nurses, 133 

Students, Ecclesiastical, in 
Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section, 
199 
Sodalities for Law, 125 
Sodalities for Medical, 123 

Studies, Preliminary, 18 

Study and Prayer Section for 
Frequent Communion, 203 
Daily Conununion, Require- 
ments for, 204 

Study Class of Lecture Section, 

177 
Study Section, Post-Graduate, 

for Nurses, 133 
Study, Union of with Section 

Work, 96 
Sub-Committees, 93 



Index 



339 



Subjects, Lecture, for Aca- 
demies, 290 
For Lecture Section, 178 
Success, Essentials of, 325 



Talks, by Sodalists, 48, 86 
Sunday, before Organizing, 

21, 29, 62, 64, 57, 73 
Vocational, 180 

Teachers, Sodalities for, 126 

Term of Officers, 45 

Thanksgiving, Knight's, of 
Knights and Ladies of 
Blessed Sacrament Section, 
199 

Theatres, Immoral, Suppress- 
ing, 151, 318 

Tinfoil, Collecting, for Mis- 
sions, 284 

Travelers'-Ald Section, 237 

Triduum for Organizing, 60 



U 



Union, National, the Ultimate 

Aim, 310 
Union of Sodalists in Prayer, 

Section for, 171 

Union, Sodality, Advantages of, 

309 
Amendments to Constitution 

of, 314 
Board of Delegates of, 313 
Catholic Literature Commit- 
tee of, 317 
Catholic Missions Committee 

of, 318 
Constitution and By-Laws of^ 

312 
Cooperation of, with Other 

Societies, 309 
Council of, 309 
Entertainment Committee of; 

317 
Examples of, 312 
Executive Committee of, 313 



Finance Committee of, 317 
Form of Credentials of, 310 
Information Leaflet of, 305 
Leaders of, 304 
Meetings of, 315 
Membership Committee of, 316 
Membership in, 314, 318 
Method of Organizing, 303 
Need for, 87, 307 
Nomination of Officers, 319 
Officers of, 308, 313, 315 
Organization Meeting of, 310 
Parish Welfare Committee of, 

318 
Preliminary Publicity of, 305 
Public Demonstrations of, 309 
Public Morals Committee of, 

318 
Quorum of Members of, 313 
Rights of Individual Sodali- 
ties of, 308 
Special Meetings of, 313 
Spiritual Advisory Board of, 

313, 315 
Various Committees of, 308, 
314 

Ushers* Committee of Lecture 
Section, 176 



Variety of Lectures for Lecture 
Section, 176 

Vestments, New, Making from 
Old, 287 

Visitation, Monthly, 225 
Visit Section, 207 
Vocational Talks, Lecture Sec- 
tion, 180 

Volunteer Workers, Enrollment 
of, 38, 141 

W 

Ways and Means Section, 187 
Welfare, Sodality, Sections, 167 

Entertainment Section, 169 

Lecture Section, 175 



340 Index 

Loan Fund Section, 174 Women, Married, Activities for. 

Membership Section, 169 40, bQ 

Mutual Aid Section, 172 Women, Young, Activities for. 

Savings Fund Section, 174 40, 65 

Sociability Section, 168 Work for Boys Section, 40, 5Q 

Union of Sodalists in Prayer 

Section, 171 Y 

Ways and Means Section, 187 Young People, Aid of, 14 



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red edges, $1.25; Am. seal, limp, gold 
edges, $2.00. 

SACRED HEART STUDIED IN THE 
SACRED SCRIPTURES. Saintrain. 
net, $1.25. 

SACRIFICE OF THE MASS WORTH- 
ILY CELEBRATED. Chaignon, S.J. 
net, $2.75. 

SECRET OF SANCTITY. Crasset, S.J. 
net, $1.25. 

SERAPHIC GUIDE, THE. $1.25. 

SHORT MEDITATIONS FOR EVERY 
DAY. Lasausse. nei, $1.25. 

SHORT VISITS TO THE BLESSED 
SACRAMENT. Lasance. net, $0.25. 

SODALIST'S VADE MECUM, net, 
$0.90. 

SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' COM- 
PANION. McGrath. Vest-pocket 
shape, silk cloth or khaki. $0.35. 

SOUVENIR OF THE NOVITIATE. 
Taylor, net, $0.85. 

SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE, THE, AND 
THE LIFE OF SACRIFICE IN 
THE RELIGIOUS STATE. Giraud. 
net, $3.00. 

SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATIONS. 

Buckler, O.P. net, $1.25. 

SPIRITUAL DESPONDENCY AND 
TEMPTATIONS. Michel, S.J. »^ 

$1.75. 
SPOILING THE DIVINE FEAST. 

de Zulueta, S.J. Paper, *$o.o8. 
STORIES FOR FIRST COMMUNI- 

CANTS. Keller, net, $0.60. 
SUNDAY MISSAL, THE. Lasance. 

Im. leather, limp, red edges, $1.90; 

gold edges, $2.25; Am. seal, limp, gold 

edges, $3-2 5- 
THINGS IMMORTAL, THE. Gar- 

ESCHE, S.J. net, $1.50. 
THOUGHTS ON THE RELIGIOUS 

LIFE. Lasance. Im. leather, limp, 

red edges, net, $2.00; Am. seal, limp, 

gold edges, net, $3.00. 
THOUGHTS AND AFFECTIONS ON 

THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST 

FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. 

Bergamo, net, $3.25. 
TRUE SPOUSE OF CHRIST. Ligugri. 

net, $1.75- 
VENERATION OF THE BLESSED 

VIRGIN. Rohner - Brennan. net. 

Si. 25. 
VIGIL HOUR THE. Ryan. S.J. Paper, 

*$O.I2. 

VISITS TO JESUS IN THE TABER- 
NACLE. Lasance. Im. leather, limp, 
red edges, $2.00; Am. seal, limp, gold 
edges, $3.50. 

VISITS TO THE MOST HOLY SACRA- 
MENT. Liguori. net, $0.90. 

WAY OF THE CROSS. Paper, *$o.o8. 

WAY OF THE CROSS, THE. Very 
large-type edition. Method of St. 
Alphonsus Liguori. *$o.25. 

WAY OF THE CROSS. Eucharistic 
method. *$o,2S. 



WAY OF THE CROSS. By a Jesuit 

Father. *$o.2S. 
WAY OF THE CROSS. Method of St. 

Francis of Assisi. *$o.2s. 
WAY OF THE CROSS. Method of St. 

Alphonsus Liguori. *$0.2S. 
WITH CHRIST, MY FRIEND. Sloan. 

net, $1.25. 
WITH GOD. Prayer-Book by Father 

Lasance. Im. leather, limp, red edges, 

$2.00; gold edges, $2.50; Am. seal, limp, 

gold edges, l3-5o. 



YOUNG MAN'S GUIDE, THE. Prayer- 
Book by Father Lasance. Seal grain 
cloth, stiff covers, red edges, $1.50. Im. 
leather, limp, red edges, $1.90; gold edges, 
32.25. Real leather,limp, gold edges,$3.25. 

YOUR INTERESTS ETERNAL. Gar- 
ESCHE SJ. net, Si. 50. 

YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOU. Gar- 
ESCHE, S.J. net, $1.50. 

YOUR Own HEART. Garesche, S.J. 
net, $1.50. 

YOUR SOUL'S SALVATION. Gar- 
esche, S.J. net, $1,50, 



m. THEOLOGY, LITURGY, HOLY SCRIPTURE, PHILOSOPHY, 
SCIENCE, CANON LAW 



ALTAR PRAYERS. Edition A: Eng- 
lish and Latin, net, $1.75- Edition B: 
German-English-Latin, net, $2.00. 

AMERICAN PRIEST, THE. Schmidt. 
tiet, $1.50. 

BAPTISMAL RITUAL. i2mo. »e/.$i.so. 

BENEDICENDA. Schulte. net, $2.75. 

BURIAL RITUAL. Cloth, net, $1.50; 
sheepskin, net, $2.50; black morocco, 
net, $3.50. 

CASES OF CONSCIENCE. Slater, 
S.J. 2 vols, net, $6.00. 
, CHRIST'S TEACHING CONCERNING 
' DIVORCE. GiGOT. net, 1l$2.75. 

CLERGYT^IAN'S HAND BOOK OF 
LAW. Scanlon. net, $2.25. 

COMBINATION RECORD FOR SMALL 
PARISHES, net, $8.co. 

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS. 
Berry, net, $3.50. 

COMPENDIUM JURIS CANONICI 
AD USUM CLERI ET SEMINARI- 
ORUM HUJUS REGIONIS ACCOM- 
MO DATUM. Smith, net, 11$2.5o. 

COMPENDIUM JURIS REGULAR- 
lUM. Bachoeen. net, 1f$3.5o. 

COMPENDIUM SACR^ LITLTRGI^. 
Wapelhorst, O.F.M. net, 1f$3.oo. 

CONSECRANDA. Schulte. net, $2.75. 

ECCLESIASTICAL D'JCTIONARY. 
Thein. 4to, half mor. net, $6.50. 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE 
STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIP- 
TURES. GiGOT. net, 1l$4.oo. 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE 
STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIP- 
TURES. Abridged edition. Gigot. net, 
1f$2.7S. 

HOLY BIBLE, THE. Large type, handy 
size. Cloth, $2.25. 

JESUS LIVING IN THE PRIEST. 
Millet. S.J.-Byrne. net, $3.25. 

MANUAL OF HOMILETICS AND 
CATECHETICS. Schuech-Lueber- 
MANN. net, $2.25 . 

MANUAL OF MORAL THEOLOGY. 
Slater, S.J. 2 vols, net, $8.00. 

MARRIAGE LEGISLATION IN THE 
NEW CODE. Ayrinhac, S.S. net, 
$2.50, 



MARRIAGE RITUAL. Cloth, gilt edges, 
net, $1.50; sheepskin, gilt edges, net, 
$2.50; real morocco, gilt edges, net, 
$3.50. . 

MESSAGE OF MOSES AND MODERN 
HIGHER CRITICISM. Gigot. Paper. 
net, 1i$o.i5. 

MORAL PRINCIPLES AND MED- 
ICAL PRACTICE. CoppENS, S.J. 
net, $1.50. 

OUTLINES OF DOGMATIC THEOL- 
OGY. Hunter, S.J. 3 vols., net, 
$7.50. 

OUTLINES OF JEWISH HISTORY, 
FROM ABRAHAM TO OUR LORD. 
Gigot. net, 11$2.75. 

OUTLINES OF NEW TESTAMENT 
HISTORY. Gigot. net, 1f$2.7S. 

PASTORAL THEOLOGY. Stang. net, 

1I$2.25. 

PEK\L LEGISLATION IN THE NEW 

CODE OF CANON LAW. Ayrinhac, 

S.S. net, $3.00. 
PHILOSOPHIA MORALI, DE. Russo, 

S.J. Half leather, net, $2.75. 
PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE. 

McHugh, O.P. net, $0.60. 
PRAXIS SYNOD ALIS. Manuale Sy- 

nodi Diocesanse ac Provinciahs Cele- 

brandae. net, $1.00. 
QUESTIONS OF MORAL THEOLOGY. 

Slater, S.J. net, $3.00. 
RITUALE COMPENDIOSUM. Cloth, 

net, $1.25; seal, net, $2.00. 
SANCTUARY BOYS' ILLUSTRATED 

MANUAL. McCalleNjS.S. net,^$i.oo. 
SHORT HISTORY OF MORAL THE- 
OLOGY. Slater, S.J. net, $0.75. 
SPECIAL INTRODUCTION TO THE 

STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

Gigot. Part I. net, 1f$2.75. Part II. 

net, 11$3.2S. 
SPIRAGO'S METHOD OF CHRIS- 
TIAN DOCTRINE. Messmer. net, 

$2.50. 
TEXTUAL CONCORDANCE OF THE 

HOLY SCRIPTURES. Williams. 

net, $5.75. 
WHAT CATHOLICS HAVE DONE 

FOR SCIENCE. Brennan. net, $1.50. 



IV. SERMONS 



CHRISTIAN MYSTERIES. Bono- 

MELU, D.D.-Byrne. 4 vols., net, $9.00. 
EIGHT-MINUTE SERMONS. De- 

MOUY. 2 vols., net, $4.00. 
HOMILIES ON THE COMMON OF 

SAINTS. Bonomelli-Byrne. 2 vols., 

net, $4.50. 

HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES AND 
GOSPELS. Bonomelli-Byrne. 4 vols. 
net, $9.00. 

MASTER'S WORD, THE, IN THE 
EPISTLES AND GOSPELS. Flynn. 

2 vols., net, $4.00. 

OUTLINES OF SERMONS FOR 
YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG 
WOMEN. ScHUEN-WiRTH. net, $3.50. 

POPULAR SERMONS ON THE CAT- 
ECHISM. Bamberg-Thubston, S.J. 

3 vols., net, $8.50. 

PULPIT SKETCHES. Lambert, net, 
$2.25. 

SERMONS. Canon Sheehan. net, $3.00. 
SERMONS FOR CHILDREN'S MASSES. 
Frassinetti-Lings. net, $2.50. 



SERMONS FOR THE SUNDAYS 
AND CHIEF FESTIVALS OF THE 
ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR. Pott- 
geisser, S.J. 2 vols., net, $5.00. 

SERMONS ON OUR BLESSED LADY. 
Flynn. net, $2.50. 

SERMONS ON THE BLESSED SAC- 
RAMENT. Scheurer-Lasance. net, 

SERMONS ON THE CHIEF CHRIS- 
TIAN VIRTUES. HuNOLT-WiRTH. net, 

$2.75- 

SERMONS ON THE DUTIES OF 
CHRISTIANS. HuNOLT-WiRTH. net, 
$2.75. 

SERMONS ON THE FOUR LAST 
THINGS. HtJNOLT-WiRTH. net, $2.75. 

SERMONS ON THE SEVEN DEADLY 
SINS. HuNOLT-WiRTH. net, $2.75. 

SERMONS ON THE VIRTUE AND 
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 
HuNOLT-WiRTH. net, $2.75. 

SERMONS ON THE MASS, THE SAC- 
RAMENTS AND THE SACRA- 
MENTALS. Flynn. net, $2.75. 

SHORT SERMONS FOR LOW MASSES. 
ScHOUPPE, S.J. net, $2.25. 



V. HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, HAGIOLOGY, TRAVEL 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ST. IGNA- 
TIUS LOYOLA. O'Connor, S.J. net, 
$1.75- 

BEGINNINGS OF CHRISTIANITY. 
Shahan. net, $3.00. 

CAMILLUS DE LELLIS. By a Sister 
OF Mercy, net, $1.75. 

CHILD'S LIFE OF ST. JOAN OF 
ARC. Mannix. net, $1.50. 

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF 
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYS- 
TEM IN THE UNITED STATES. 
Burns, C.S.C. net, $2.50. 

HISTORY OF ECONOMICS Dewe. 
net, %2.oo. 

HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC 
CHURCH. Brueck. 2 vols., wei, $5.50. 

HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC 
CHURCH. Busxnger-Brennan. net, 
$3-50. 

HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC 
CHURCH. Businger-Brennan. net, 

1f$o.75. 
HISTORY OF THE PROTESTANT 

REFORMATION. Cobbett-Gas- 

QUET. net, $1.25. 
HISTORY OF THE MASS. O'Brien. 

net, $2.00. 
HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH IN THE 

NINETEENTH CENTURY. Kempf, 

S.J. net, $2.7S. 
LIFE OF ST. MARGARET MARY 

ALACOQUE. Illustrated. Bougaxjd. 

net, $2.75. 
LIFE OF CHRIST. Businger-Brennan. 

Illustrated. Half morocco, gilt edges, 

net, $15.00. 
LIFE OF CHRIST. Illustrated. Bus- 

inger-Mullett. net, $3.50. 
LIFE OF CHRIST. Cochem. net, $1.25. 



LIFE OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA. 

Genelli, S.J. net, $1.25. 
LIFE OF MADEMOISELLE LE 

GRAS. net, $1.25. 
LIFE OF POPE PIUS X. Illustrated. 

net, $3.50. 
LIFE OF SISTER ANNE KATHARINE 

EMMERICH. McGowan, O.S.A. net, 

$2.50. 
LIFE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

Rohner. net, $1.25. 
LITTLE LIVES OF THE SAINTS 

FOR CHILDREN. Berthold. net, 

$1.25. 
LITTLE PICTORIAL LIVES OF THE 

SAINTS. With 400 illustrations, net, 

$2.00. 
LIVES OF THE SAINTS. Butler 

net, $1.25. 
LOURDES. Clarke, S.J. net, $1.25. 
MARY THE QUEEN. By a ReUgious. 

net, $0.75. 
MIDDLE AGES, THE. Shahan. net, 

$3.00. 
NAMES THAT LIVE IN CATHOLIC 

HEARTS. Sadlier. net, $1.25. 
OUR OWN ST. RITA. Corcoran, 

O.S.A. net, $1.50. 
PATRON SAINTS FOR CATHOLIC 

YOUTH. Mannix. 3 vols. Each, net, 

$1.25. 
PICTORIAL LIVES OF THE SAINTS. 

With nearly 400 illustrations and over 

600 pages, net, $5.00. 
POPULAR LIFE OF ST. TERESA. 

L'abbe Joseph, net, $1.25. 
PRINCIPLES ORIGIN AND ESTAB- 
LISHMENT OF THE CATHOLIC 

SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED 

STATES. Burns, C.S.C. net, $2.50. 



RAMBLES IN CATHOLIC LANDS. 
Barrett, O.S.B. Illustrated, net, $3.50. 

ROMA. Pagan Subterranean and Mod- 
em Rome in Word and Picture. By 
Rev. Albert Kuhn, O.S.B. , D.D. 
Preface by Cardinai. Gibbons. 617 
pages. 744 illustrations. 48 fuill-page 
inserts, 3 plans of Rome in colors, 8| 
X12 inches. Red im. leather, gold 
side, net, $15.00. 

ROMAN CURIA AS IT NOW EXISTS. 
Martin, S.J. net, $2.50. 

ST. ANTHONY. Ward, nei, $1.25. 

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI. Dubois, 
S.M. net, $1.25. 



ST. JOAN OF ARC. Lynch, S.J. Illus- 
trated, net, $2.75. 

SAINTS AND PLACES. By John 
Ayscough. Illustrated, net, $3.00. 

SHORT LIVES OF THE SAINTS. 
Donnelxy. net, $0.90. 

STORY OF JESUS SIMPLY TOLD 
FOR THE YOU-NG, THE. Mul- 
HOIXAND. net, $1.00. 

STORY OF THE DIVINE CHILD. 
Told for Children. Lings, net, $0.75. 

STORY OF THE ACTS OF THE APOS- 
TLES. Lynch, S.J. Illustrated, net, 

WOMEN OF CATHOLICITY. Sadlier. 
net, $1.25. 



VI. JUVENILES 



FATHER FINN'S BOOKS. 

Each, net, $1.50. 
FACING DANGER. 
HIS LUCKIEST YEAR. A Sequel to 

"Lucky Bob." 
LUCKY BOB. 
PERCY WYNN; OR, MAKING A 

BOY OF HIM. 
TOM PLAYFAIR; OR, MAKING A 

START. 
CLAUDE LIGHTFOOT; OR, HOW 

THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 
HARRY DEE; OR, WORKING IT 

OUT. 
ETHELRED PRESTON; OR, THE 

ADVENTURES OF A NEWCOMER. 
THE BEST FOOT FORWARD; AND 

OTHER STORIES. 
CUPID OF CAMPION. 
THAT FOOTBALL GAME, AND 

WHAT CAME OF IT. 
THE FAIRY OF THE SNOWS. 
THAT OFFICE BOY. 
mS FIRST AND LAST APPEAR- 
ANCE. 
MOSTLY BOYS. SHORT STORIES. 

FATHER SPALDING'S BOOKS. 

Each, net, $1.50. 
HELD IN THE EVERGLADES. 
AT THE FOOT OF THE SANDHILLS. 
THE CAVE BY THE BEECH FORK. 
THE SHERIFF OF THE BEECH 

FORK 
THE CAMP BY COPPER RIVER. 
THE RACE FOR COPPER ISLAND. 
THE MARKS OF THE BEAR CLAWS. 
THE OLD MILL ON THE WITH- 

ROSE. 
THE SUGAR CAMP AND AFTER 

ADVENTURE WITH THE APACHES. 

Ferry, net, $0.75. 
ALTHEA. NiRDLiNGER. net, $1.00. 
AS GOLD IN THE FURNACE. Copus, 

S.J. net, $1.50. 
AS TRUE AS GOLD. Mannix. net, 

$0.75. 
AT THE 'FOOT OF THE SANDHILLS. 

Spalding, SJ. net, $1.50. 
BELL FOUNDRY. Schaching, «e/,$o.7S- 
BERKLEYS. THE. Wight, net, $0.75. 
BEST FOOT FORWARD, THE. Finn, 

S.J. net, $1.50. 



BETWEEN FRIENDS. Aumerle. net, 

$1.00. 
BISTOURI. Melandri. net, $0.75. 
BLISSYLVANLA POST-OFFICE. Tag- 

gart. net, $0.75. 
BOB O'LINK. Waggaman. net, $0.75. 
BROWNIE AND I. Aumerle. net, $1.00. 
BUNT AND BILL. Mulholland. net, 

$0.75- 
BY BRANSCOME RIVER. Taggart. 

net, $0.75. 
CAMP BY COPPER RIVER. Spalding, 

S.J. net, $1.50. 
CAPTAIN TED. Waggaman. «c/, $1.00. 
CAVE BY THE BEECH FORK. Spald- 
ing, S.J. net, $1.50. 
CHARLIE CHITTYWICK. Bearne, S.J. 

net, $1.50. 
CHILDREN OF CUPA. Manndc net, 

$0.75. 
CHILDREN OF THE LOG CABIN. 

Delaware, net, $1.00. 
CLARE LORAINE. "Lee." net, %i. 00. 
CLAUDE LIGHTFOOT. Finn, S.J. net, 

$i-So. 
CUPA REVISITED. Mannix. net, $0.75. 
CUPID OF CAMPION. Finn, S.J. net, 

$1.50. 
DADDY DAN. Waggaman. net, $0.75. 
DEAR FRIENDS. Nirdlinger. net, 

$1.00. 
DIMPLING'S SUCCESS. Mulholland. 

net, $0.75. 
ETHELRED PRESTON. Finn, S.J. net. 

$1.50, 
EVERY-DAY GIRL, AN. Crowley, net, 

$0.75. 
FACING DANGER. Finn, S.J. net, 

FAIRY OF THE SNOWS. Finn, S.J. 

net, $1.50. 
FINDING OF TONY. Waggaman. net, 

FIVE BIRDS IN A NEST. Delamare. 
net, $1.00. 

FIVE O'CLOCK STORIES. By a Reli- 
gious, net, $1.00. 

FLOWER OF THE FLOCK. Egan. net, 

FOR ^ THE WHITE ROSE. Hinkson. 

net, $0.75. 
FRED'S LITTLE DAUGHTER. Smith. 

net, $0.75. 



FREDDY CARR'S ADVENTURES. 

Garrold, SJ. net, $i.oo. 
FREDDY CARR AND HIS FRIENDS. 

Garrold, S.J. net, $i.oo. 
GOLDEN LILY, THE. Hinkson. net, 

$0.75. 
GREAT CAPTAIN, THE. Hinkson. net, 

$0.75. 
HALDEMAN CHILDREN, THE. Man- 

mx. net, $0.75. 
HARMONY FLATS. Whitmire. net, 

$1.00. 
HARRY DEE. Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 
HARRY RUSSELL. Copus, S.J. net, 

$1.50. 
HEIR OF DREAMS, AN. O'Malley. 

net, $0.75. 
HELD IN THE EVERGLADES. 

Spalding, S.J. net, $1.50. 
HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE. 

Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 
HIS LUCKIEST YEAR, Finn. S.J. 

net, $1.50. 
HOSTAGE OF WAR, A. Bonesteel. 

net, $0.75. 
HOW THEY WORKED THEIR WAY. 

Egan. net, $1.00. 
IN QUEST OF ADVENTURE. Man- 

NDC. net, $0.75. 
IN QUEST OF THE GOLDEN CHEST. 

Barton, net, $1.00. 
JACK. By a Religious, H.C.J, net, 

JACk-6'LANTERN.j Waggaman. net, 

$0.75. 
JACK HILDRETH ON THE NILE. 

Taggart. net, fi.oo. 
JUNIORS' OF ST. BEDE'S. Bryson. 

net, $1.00. 
JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. First 

Series. net, $1.50. 
JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. Second 

Series, net, $1.50. 
KLONDIKE PICNIC, A. Donnelly. 

net, $1.00. 
LEGENDS AND STORIES OF THE 

HOLY CHILD JESUS, Lutz. net, 

$1.00. 
LITTLE APOSTLE ON CRUTCHES. 

Delamare. net, $0.75. 
LITTLE GIRL FROM BACK EAST. 

Roberts, net, $0.7'^. 
LITTLE LADY OF THE HALL. Rye- 
man, net, $0.75. 
LITTLE MARSHALLS AT THE LAKE. 

NixoN-RouLET. net, $1.00. 
LITTLE MISSY. Waggaman. net, $0.75. 
LOYAL BLUE AND ROYAL SCAR- 
LET. Taggart. net, $1.50. 
LUCKY BOB. Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 
MADCAP SET AT ST. ANNE'S. Bru- 

NOWE. net, $0.75. 
MAD KNIGHT, THE. Schaching. net, 

$.0.75. 
MAKING OF MORTLAKE. CoPUS, S.J. 

net, $1.50. 
MAN FROM NOWHERE. Sadlier. 

net, $1.50. 
MARKS OF THE BEAR CLAWS. 

Spalding, S.J. net, $1.50. 
MARY TRACY'S FORTUNE. Sad- 
lier. net, $0.75. 



MELOR OF THE SILVER HAND. 

Bearne, S.J. net, $1.50. 

MILLY AVELING. Smith, net, $1.00. 

MIRALDA. Johnson, net, $0.75. 

MORE FIVE O'CLOCK STORIES. 
By a Religious, net, $1.00. 

MOSTLY BOYS, Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 

MYSTERIOUS DOORWAY. Sadlier. 
net, $0.75. 

MYSTERY OF HORNBY HALL. 
Sadlier. net, $1.00. 

MYSTERY OF CLEVERLY. Barton. 
net, $1.00. 

NAN NOBODY. Waggaman. net, $0.75. 

NED RIEDER. Wehs. net, $1.00. 

NEW SCHOLAR AT ST. ANNE'S. 
Brunowe. net, $1.00. 

OLD CHARLMONT'S SEED-BED. 
Smith, net, $0.75. 

OLD MILL ON THE WITHROSE. 
Spalding, S.J. net, $1.50. 

ON THE OLD CAMPING GROUND. 
Manndc. net, $1.50. 

OUR LADY'S LUTENIST. Bearne, 
S.J. net, $1.50. 

PANCHO AND PANCHITA. Mannk. 
net, $0.75. 

PAULINE ARCHER Sadlier. net, $0.75. 

PERCY WYNN. Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 

PERIL OF DIONYSIO. Manndc. net, 
$0.75. 

PETRONILLA. Donnelly, net, $1.00. 

PICKLE AND PEPPER. Dorsey. net, 
$1.50. 

PILGRIM FROM IRELAND. Carnot. 
net, $0.75. 

PLAYWATER PLOT, THE. Wagga- 
man. net, $1.00. 

POLLY DAY'S ISLAND. Roberts, net, 
$1.50. 

POVERINA. BucKENHAM. net, $1.00. 

QUEEN'S PAGE, THE. Hinkson. net, 
$0.75. 

QUEEN'S PROMISE, THE. Wagga- 
man. net, $1.00. 

QUEST OF MARY SELWYN. Clem- 
entia. net, $1.50. 

RACE FOR COPPER ISLAND. Spald- 
ing, S.J. net, $1.50. 

RECRUIT TOMMY COLLINS. Bone- 
steel, net, $0.75. 

RIDINGDALE FLOWER SHOW. 
Bearne, S.J. net, $1.50. 

ROMANCE OF THE SILVER SHOON. 
Bearne, S.J. net, $1.50. 

ST. CUTHBERT'S. Copus, S.J. net, 
$1.50. 

SANDY JOE. Waggaman. net, $1.50. 

SEA-GULL'S ROCK. Sandeau. net, 
$0.75. 

SEVEN LITTLE MARSHALLS. 
NixoN-RouLET. net, $0.75. 

SHADOWS LIFTED. Copus, S.J. net, 
$1.50. 

SHEER PLUCK. Bearne, S.J. net, $1.50. 

SHERIFF OF THE BEECH FORK. 
Spalding, S.J. ttet, $1.50. 

SHIPMATES. Waggaman. net, $1.00. 

SUGAR CAMP AND AFTER. Spald- 
ing, S.J. net, $1.50. 

SUMMER AT WOODVILLE. Saduek. 
net, $0,75. 



8 



TALES AND LEGENDS OF THE 
MIDDLE AGES, de Capella, net, 
li.oo. 

TALISMAN, THE. Sadlier. weMi.oo. 

TAMING OF POLLY. Dorsey. net, 
$i.SO. 

THAT FOOTBALL GAME. Finn, S.J. 
net, $1.50. 

THAT OFFICE BOY. Finn, S.J. net, 
$1.50. 

THREE LITTLE GIRLS AND ESPE- 
CIALLY ONE. Taggart. net, $0.75. 

TOLD IN THE TWILIGHT. Salome. 
net, $1.00. 

TOM LOSELY; BOY. Copus, S.J. net, 
$1.50. 

TOMPLAYFAIR. Finn. S.J. »e/, $1.50. 



TOM'S LUCK-POT. Waggaman. net, 
$0.75. 

TOORALLADDY. Walsh, net, $0.75. 

TRANSPLANTING OF TESSIE. Wag- 
gaman. net, $1.00. 

TREASURE OF NUGGET MOUN- 
TAIN. Taggart. net, $1.00. 

TWO LITTLE GIRLS. Mack, net, 
$0.75. 

UNCLE FRANK'S MARY. Clemen- 
TiA. net, $1.50. 

UPS AND DOWNS OF MARJORIE. 
Waggaman. net, $0.75. 

VIOLIN MAKER. Smith, net, $0.75. 

WINNETOU, THE APACHE KNIGHT. 
Taggart. net, $1.00. 

YOUNG COLOR GUARD. Bonesieel, 
net, $0.75. 



Vn. NOVELS 



ISABEL C. CLARKE'S GREAT 

NOVELS. Each, net, $2,25. 
URSULA FINCH. 
THE ELSTONES. 
EUNICE. 

LADY TRENT'S DAUGHTER. 
CHILDREN OF EVE. 
THE DEEP HEART. 
WHOSE NAME IS LEGION. 
FINE CLAY. 
PRISONERS' YEARS. 
THE REST HOUSE. 
ONLY ANNE. 
THE SECRET CITADEL. 
BY THE BLUE RIVER. 

AGATHA'S HARD SAYING. Mulhol- 

land. net, $1.65. 
ALBERTA: ADVENTURESS. L'Er- 

mite. 8vo. net, $2.25. 
BACK TO THE WORLD. Champol. 

net, $2.25. 
BARRIER, THE. Bazin. net, $1.65. 
BALLADS OF CHILDHOOD. Poems. 

Earls, S.J. net, $1.50. 
BLACK BROTHERHOOD, THE. Gar- 

ROLD, S.J. net, $2.25. 
BOND AND FREE. Connor, net, $1.00. 
"BUT THY LOVE AND THY GRACE." 

Finn, S.J. net, $1.50. 
BY THE BLUE RIVER. Clarke. 

net, $2.25. 
CARROLL DARE. Waggaman. net, 

$1.25. 
CIRCUS-RIDER'S DAUGHTER. 

Brackel. net, $125. 
CHILDREN OF EVE. Clarke, net, 

CONNOR D'ARCY'S STRUGGLES. 

Bertholds. net, $1.25. 
CORINNE'S VOW. Waggaman. net, 

$1.25. 
DAUGHTER OF KINGS, A. Hinkson. 

net, $2.25. 
DEEP HEART, THE. Clarke, net, 

$2.25. 
DION AND THE SIBYLS. Keon. net, 

$1.25. 
ELDER MISS AINSBOROUGH, THE. 

Taggart. net, $1.25. 
ELSTONES, THE. Clarke, net, $2.25. 



EUNICE. Clarke, net, $2.25. 
FABIOLA. Wiseman, net, $1.00. 
FABIOLA'S SISTERS. Clarke, net, 

$1.25. 
FATAL BEACON, THE. Brackel. 

net, $1.25. 
FAUSTULA. Ayscough. net, $2.25. 
FINE CLAY. Clarke, net, $2.25. 
FORGIVE AND FORGET. Lingen. 

net, $1.25. 
GRAPES OF THORNS- Waggaman. 

net, $1.25. 
HEART OF A MAN. Maher. net, 

$2.25. 
HEARTS OF GOLD. Edhor. net, $1.25. 
HEIRESS OF CRONENSTEIN. Hahn- 
' Hahn. net, $1.00. 

HER BLIND FOLLY. Holt. »e/, $1.25 
HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER. Hink- 
son. net, $2.25. 
HER FATHER'S SHARE. Power, net, 

$1.25. 
HER JOURNEY'S END. Cooke, net, 

$1.25. 
IDOLS; or THE SECRET OF THE 

RUE CHAUSSE D'ANTIN. de Nav- 

ERY. net, $1.25. 
IN GOD'S GOOD TIME. Ross, net, 

•Si. 00. 
IN SPITE OF ALL. Stanieorth, net, 

$1.25. 
IN THE DAYS OF KING HAL. Tag- 
gart. net, $1.25. 
IVY HEDGE, THE. Egan. net, $2.25. 
KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS. 

Harrison, net, $1.25. 
LADY TRENT'S DAUGHTER. 

Clarke, net, $2.25. 
LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE. 

Hart, net, Si. 00. 
" LIKE UNTO A MERCHANT." Gray. 

net, $2.25. 
LINKED LIVES. Douglas, net, $2.25. 
LITTLE CARDINAL. Parr. net,%x.&s. 
LOVE OF BROTHERS. Hinkson. net, 

$2.25. 
MARCELLA GRACE. Mulholland. 

net, $1.25. 
MARIE OF THE HOUSE D'ANTERS. 

Earls, S,J. net, $2,25. 



MELCHIOR OF BOSTON. Earls, SJ. 

net, $1.25. 
MIGHTY FRIEND, THE. L'Ermite. 

net, $2.25. 
MIRROR OF SHALOTT. Benson, net, 

$2.25. 
MISS ERIN. Francis, net, $1.25. 
MR. BILLY BUTTONS. Lecky. net, 

$i.6s. 
MONK'S PARDON, THE. de Navery. 

net, $1.25. 
MY LADY BEATRICE. Cooke, net, 

$1.00. 
NOT A JUDGMENT. Keon. net, Z1.65. 
ONLY ANNE. Clarke, net, $2.25. 
OTHER MISS LISLE. MARim. net, 

$1.00. 
OUT OF BONDAGE. Holt, net, $1.25. 
OUTLAW OF CAMARGUE. de La- 

MOTHE. net, $1.25. 
PASSING SHADOWS. Yorke. net, 

$1.65. 
PERE MONNIER'S WARD. Lecky. 

net, $1.65. 
PILKINGTON HEIR, THE. Sadlier, 

net, $1.25. 
PRISONERS' YEARS. Clarke, net, 

$2.25. 
PRODIGAL'S DAUGHTER, THE, AND 

OTHER STORIES. Bxjgg. net, $1.50. 
PROPHET'S WIFE. [Browne. «e/, $1.25. 
RED INN OF ST. LYPHAR. Sadlier. 

net, $1.25. 
REST HOUSE, THE. Clarke, net, $2.25. 
ROSE OF THE WORLD. Martin, net, 

ROUND TABLE OF AMERICAN 
CATHOLIC NOVELISTS, net, $1.25. 

ROUND TABLE OF FRENCH CATH- 
OLIC NOVELISTS, net, $1.25. 

ROUND TABLE OF GERMAN CATH- 
OLIC NOVELISTS, net, $1.25. 

ROUND TABLE OF IRISH AND ENG- 
LISH CATHOLIC NOVELISTS, net, 
$1.25. 

RUBY CROSS, THE. Wallace, net, 

RULER OF THE KINGDOM. Keon. 

net, $1.65. 
SECRET CITADEL, THE. Clarke. 

net, $2.25, 



SECRET OF THE GREEN VASE. 

Cooke, net, $1.00. 
SHADOW OF EVERSLEIGH. Lans- 

downe. net, $1.00. 
SHIELD OF SILENCE. Henry-Rup- 

FEsr. net, $2.25. 
SO AS BY FIRE. Connor, net, $1.25. 
SON OF SIRO, THE. Copus, S.J. net, 

$2.25. 
STORY OF CECILIA, THE. Hinkson. 

net, $1.65. 
STUORE. Earls, S.J. net, $1.50. 
TEMPEST OF THE HEART. Gray. 

net, $1.25. 
TEST OF COURAGE. Ross, net, U.oo. 
THAT MAN'S DAUGHTER. Ross, net, 

$1.25. 
THEIR CHOICE. Skinner, net, $1.00. 
THROUGH THE DESERT. Sienkie- 

wicz. net, $2.25. 
TIDEWAY, THE. Ayscough. net, $2.25. 
TRAINING OF SILAS. Devine. net, 

$1.65. 
TRUE STORY OF MASTER GERARD. 

Sadlier. net, $1.65. 
TURN OF THE TIDE, THE. Gray. 

net, $1.25. 
UNBIDDEN GUEST, THE. Cooke. 

net, $1.00. 
UNDER THE CEDARS AND THE 

STARS. Canon Sheehan. net, $2.25. 
UP IN ARDMUIRLAND. Barrett, 

O.S.B. net, $1.65. 
URSULA FINCH. Clarke, net, $2.25. 
VOCATION OF EDWARD CONWAY, 

THE. Egan. net, $1.65. 
WARGRAVE TRUST, THE. Reid. net, 

$1.65. 
WAR MOTHERS. Poems. Garesche, 

S.J. net, $0.60. 
WAY THAT LED BEYOND, THE. 

Harrison, net, $1.25. 
WEDDING BELLS OF GLENDA- 

LOUGH, THE. Earls, S.J. net, $2.25. 
WHEN LOVE IS STRONG. Keon 

net, $1.65. 
WHOSE NAME IS LEGION. Clarke. 

net, $2.25. 
WOMAN OF FORTUNE, A. Reid. net, 

$1.65. 



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